Barcelona and AC Milan Eye Historic Swap Deal: Leão for Araujo Sparks Debate

June 18, 2025 – A potential seismic transfer is on the horizon as Barcelona and AC Milan explore a swap deal involving winger Rafael Leão and defender Ronald Araujo, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo on June 17. This proposed exchange could reshape both clubs’ squads as the transfer window approaches.

The deal would see Leão, the dynamic Portuguese forward who joined Milan for €35 million in 2019, move to Barcelona, bringing his dribbling prowess and goal-scoring ability to the Catalan side. In return, Araujo, a robust Uruguayan center-back acquired by Barça for €1.7 million in 2018, would bolster Milan’s defense under new manager Massimiliano Allegri. The move comes as Barcelona, fresh off a domestic treble in the 2024/25 season, seeks to address their Champions League shortcomings, while Milan aims to strengthen its backline.

Given the valuation disparity—Araujo’s recent contract extension suggests a higher market worth—negotiations may require additional financial adjustments. With the transfer window set to open, this unverified rumor highlights the strategic shifts both clubs might pursue, though confirmation remains pending from official sources.