AC Milan have a couple of rather puzzling situations to resolve when it comes to their attacking department, a journalist has written.
In the January window, Milan decided to try and fix the striker position for the long term by signing Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord in a deal worth over €30m. After a bright start, things have not gone well in 2025-26 for him, as he is yet to score a goal in the league.
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The biggest signing of the summer in terms of expenditure was Christopher Nkunku, who signed from Chelsea for €38m plus bonuses. He too has not hit the ground running in the current campaign, having scored his only goal in the Coppa Italia, even leading to rumours of a winter exit.
Two big question marks
Andrea Longoni published his weekly column for MilanNews and as part of it he spoke about the Mexican and the Frenchman, highlighting what he believes to be some problems with how both are handling things.
“There are two cases at Milan today, both in attack. The first is Santiago Gimenez: it’s been almost a month and a half since the Mexican’s last appearance. He’s out with an unspecified ankle problem, which was actually announced on social media by the player himself, not the club,” he said.
“It’s worth remembering that Allegri had publicly stated he expected to have him available for the derby on November 23rd. Meanwhile, while awaiting a return date that isn’t currently available, he’s been the talk of social media, his agent, and even his father. His handling of the situation is rather questionable.
“And then there’s Nkunku, a true mystery. By December, it can’t be a fitness issue anymore. Especially since his impact hadn’t been bad: a penalty won (but not awarded), a goal in the Coppa Italia, and a goal in the post. From then on, it was a constant decline.
“The feeling is that the Frenchman is mentally blocked, almost afraid to play. One fact is emblematic: in the last three games, he hasn’t taken a shot. The last one dates back to November 8th. Football, let’s remember, isn’t hide and seek…”
“in the last three games, he hasn’t taken a shot.” He touched the ball maybe 30 times in the last 3 games, 120 minutes. If you tried to be useless, you couldn’t be more useless than Nkunku. If Colombo played instead he would look like Haaland compared to him.
How many times did the other striker Leao touch the ball during those 3 games?
Milan strikers are isolated and barely get any service.
93. And 7 shots and a goal. Nkunku is not doing anything. Loftus Cheek is better than him as a striker. 0 shots on goal. 0 dribbles, 0 in every single relevant number for a forward. What are you talking about?
So Nkunku touched the ball 30 times in 120 minutes according to you, while Leao touched the ball 93 times in what, 270 minutes, and the only differences between the 2 is one goal.
Wow, one of them is useless while the other is so useful, even though the useful one has played more than double the amount of minutes.
Both of them are “useless” because they rarely touch the ball, because they rarely get any service.
No, that is not the only difference, I wrote up there just the most common stats, didn’t compare dribbles, chances created and so on. Nkunku has 0 in all of those. Useless player. Leao is Maradona for him. If we put Rabiot up front he would be at least 10 times better than Nkunku. Pavlovic would be better. You can’t do worse than 0 dribbles, 0 shots, 0 chances created. WTF are you talking about? Should we compare with Pulisic as well? Maybe even Loftus Cheek=? You are ridiculous, it is a lay up to understand and you can’t. Ask your parents why and stop wasting my time.
Let me put it like this, maybe you will understand better. Leao is actually playing football and Nkunku is a spectating ghost.
“Leao is actually playing football and Nkunku is a spectating ghost.” Correct. Colossal waste of money so far.
Using RLC in place of Nkunku is actually a decent shout.
Igli Tare should stop looking for overhyped big names who are often overpriced and underperform. Sign Tim Kleindienst instead. He is tall, increasingly lethal in front of goal as he matures, with solid assist numbers as well. He scores in big games — including one against Italy. We should keep the team player Santiago Gimenez and can release the ineffective Nkunku.
An how is Tim Kleindienst not overhyped, the guy has spend the majority of his career in 2nd. Bundesliga or regional league and over half of his goals has been scored in the 2nd or 3rd leagues.
It has to be himself posting to get a transfer. There isn’t any other explanation. He is maybe 5th striker for Milan level. Not even that.
If so then I’ll suggest myself to Tare, a 46 year old fella who smokes 20-40 cigarettes a day and likes to get as drunk as a footballer from the 1980ies epl. My form isn’t the same as it previously was but I’ll always show up with a cuthroat mentality and take no survivors and has a good eye for goal both with my feet and head. I might only be able to play 1 half but I’ll work for cheap as well 😀
You should say, I have 2 eyes, 2 legs and 2 hands. All good. 🙂
Your description sounds like Robert Prosinecki. 1/1. He smoked Red Marlboro in the shower during half time break.
Even though you’re missing perfect technique on the ball that he had. 😀
I had a pretty good teqnique as I was top scorer with 10+ goals as a cdm while I was captain as well 😛 Never took the penaltykicks either
😀 Some of those old schools players had character eventhough they probably could have been better without such vices-
I’d argue I was bit of a mix of Gattuso and Pirlo just taller than both 😀