FC Porto submits loan bid for Santi Giménez, AC Milan rejects

AC Milan has turned down FC Porto’s attempt to sign Mexican striker Santiago Giménez on loan with an option to buy, insisting instead on a permanent transfer.

Giménez moved to Milan from Feyenoord in February 2025 for a fee reported between €32 million and €37 million. The striker has struggled for consistent playing time at San Siro during the 2025-26 season.

What Porto offered, and why Milan said no

Porto’s proposal was a loan deal with a purchase option reportedly set around €20 million. Milan reportedly want between €20 million and €25 million in a permanent transfer, which would still represent a financial loss compared to what they originally paid.

A transfer that lost altitude quickly

His current market valuation, according to Transfermarkt as of May 2026, sits at €18 million. That’s roughly half of what Milan paid at the top end of the reported fee range.

Porto manager Francesco Farioli has reportedly made personal contact with Giménez, with negotiations being managed by agent Rafaela Pimenta.

What happens next

The standoff leaves both clubs in an uncomfortable position as the transfer window progresses. Milan needs to move Giménez to clean up their books, but selling at a steep discount undermines their negotiating credibility on future deals. Porto needs attacking reinforcements but won’t abandon their financial discipline just because Milan wants a clean break.

One possible resolution is a structured permanent deal with installment payments, which would give Porto the cash flow flexibility they want while giving Milan the guaranteed sale they need.