Samuel Chukwueze has become an enigma of sorts at AC Milan, and tonight against Stade Rennais he should start on the bench despite it seeming like a good opportunity to field him from the first minute.
Calciomercato.com write in detail about ‘a mystery called Samuel Chukwueze’ who was the most expensive purchase of Milan’s 2023-24 summer mercato and yet remains a big question mark when the season is already past the halfway point.
The Nigerian forward was signed on a long-term deal after Milan agreed a fee of €20m plus €8m in bonuses with Villarreal, but he is encountering greater difficulties in adapting than expected in his first season, in Italy mainly at a tactical level and in understanding team dynamics.
The paradox is that Pioli has tried to make changes to the way that Milan’s attacking build-up works by relying less on individual plays and on prevailing in as many one-on-one situations as possible, in favour of a more measured approach.
The best version of Chukwueze – the one we saw in LaLiga – is a player who thrives precisely in situations whereby he is able to beat his man in isolation, showing off his dribbling and ability to cut inside to create or score.
There is also a psychological component to Chukwueze’s difficult start because he has not had consistent starts and this might well translate into a lack of confidence, as well as the other obvious problems like falling out of match rhythm and failing to build chemistry with team-mates.
A muscle injury at the beginning of October which kept him in the pits for around 30 days which did not help, and his recent participation in the African Cup of Nations meant another month away from Milan and that has inevitably slowed him down too.
The competition where the 24-year-old has shown his best is in the Champions League where there is a greater propensity from opponents to play matches in a more open and offensive way. He scored the equaliser against Dortmund at home, and the winner away against Newcastle.
The game tonight in Rennes could mark his debut for the season in the Europa League, a competition he won in 2021 with Villarreal. However, Pioli has still not decided whether to field him of Christian Pulisic despite the fact the American was not in great shape for the Monza game.
Having signed until June 2028 and with a salary of €4m net per season, there are inevitable questions and reflections on whether Chukwueze was the right man. Nonetheless, he will of course be given time.
