A battle is underway between Santiago Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku to partner Rafael Leao against Fiorentina, a report claims.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Leao is a certainty to play against Stefano Pioli’s men, but Massimiliano Allegri will wait until the final training sessions to make a final decision on his strike partner.
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This is natural, given that Gimenez – who returned to Milan from Mexico yesterday – will only complete the full session with the group on Friday, while Nkunku returned from his commitments with France not in the best shape due to a foot problem.
Milan already have a midfield stretched thin by injuries to Adrien Rabiot and Ardon Jashari, and Christian Pulisic out for around a month. The name of who will partner Leao will emerge from the battle between the Mexican and the Frenchman, with youngster Balentien on the bench.
Santi vs. Chris
Gimenez is still searching for his first Serie A goal, but he’s consistently started in the league under Allegri. The former Feyenoord man is the only pure striker in the squad, and in the early games he’s been struggling in front of goal, but working tirelessly.
In the last match before the break, against Juventus, he showed encouraging signs, coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions and winning a penalty that Pulisic missed.
The uncertainty surrounding Santi lies in his recovery from the long overseas trip, although after the first international break, he did start in Milan vs. Bologna. However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the Rossoneri will play four games in two weeks, and Max will want to avoid even the slightest risk.
Nkunku scores when he starts. He netted a goal against Lecce in the Coppa Italia and a then for France against Iceland on Monday night. The match at the Allianz Stadium is, so far, the only one in which Nkunku has played alongside Leao: 17 minutes plus injury time, with Rafa missing big chances.
In the pairings – when all four forwards are available – Leao is considered the striker. The second strikers are Pulisic or Nkunku. It goes without saying that without Captain America, the Frenchman becomes the natural alternative. But in an emergency situation, will Allegri follow the same logic?
imo we have to play a 352 and based on how its goes switch to a 4 3 3 , field leao giminez and loftus for rabiot —- if it doesnt work out 4 3 3 later that match davide pavlovich gabbia tomori with midfield ricci modric fofana and leao santi salemakers and nukunku comes on for santi since santi would be more tired. obviously im not the coach and i hope to see us win vs a struggling fiorentian