Leão confirmed he rejected a proposal from Aston Villa, an English Premier League club, expressing his decision to join Galatasaray. The Portuguese forward arrived smiling at Istanbul airport, where he was received by fans of the Turkish club.
Galatasaray exerted pressure on the player since June to secure his signing, according to what the forward himself confirmed. This constant pressure from the Turkish club ultimately prevailed over Aston Villa's interest.
The Portuguese international, who had been representing AC Milan until then, decided to move to Turkish football in a transfer that involved a loan with an option to buy. The decision was made after a period of prolonged negotiations.
