Christopher Nkunku has lifted the lid on swapping Chelsea for AC Milan, while setting a goal target for his first season in Italy.
Milan were linked with many different forwards during the summer window, but the pursuit of Nkunku came about very quickly, as did the acceleration towards the completion of a deal that will be worth over €35m.
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The signing was made official by the club just before the Lecce game and it was also confirmed that the Frenchman has put pen to paper on a long-term deal. Milan will be hoping it is another inspired purchase from Chelsea, after the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic.
‘Everything was perfect’
Nkunku spoke in front of reporters who gathered at Casa Milan for his unveiling press conference alongside another new addition in David Odogu. His comments are via MilanNews.
What did you feel when you heard about Milan’s interest?
“The first time I heard about AC Milan was when I had my first contact with the sporting director. I didn’t think too much about it, everything was perfect for me to come here.”
What’s your favoured role?
“I like playing as an attacking midfielder. Then it depends on the formation and how it’s interpreted. The coach will decide, I can’t wait to play.”
How are you? Are you ready now?
“I’m fine. I started training with the team these days. I can’t wait to be ready for the next match.”
What went wrong in London?
“I think everything was perfect when I arrived, but then I got injured and was out for many months. I was really eager to return, and then I had another muscle problem.
“I was fine in my second year, but then the coach made other decisions. I’m just the same player who scored twice in Bergamo.”
How many goals do you want to score?
“I don’t know how many I’ll do. If I do more than 15, it will mean I’ve done well. We’ll see at the end of the season.”
Here at Milan you’ll find many French players…
“It’s important to have four players I already know here, they’ll help me. They know the league and the city, and they’ll be important on and off the pitch. The important thing is to build a strong connection with all my teammates.”
How will your speed impact Serie A? What do you think about a partnership with Leao?
“I have to adapt to the team and the league. Rafa and I have similar characteristics. He’s a great player, I know what he’s capable of, let’s hope we can do well together.”
What do you think of the other forwards in the squad? Who do you think you’d get along with best?
“I think we have a great squad with many strong forwards. Everyone needs to bring their skills to the team. I can adapt to what the coach asks and then do what he asks of me.”
What impression did Allegri make on you?
“A good impression. I spoke with him before signing. My goal is to adapt quickly to the team, train, and get to know this new environment.”
You played for PSG with many former Serie A players…
“They all have the same mentality, that is, they’re all set to win. They all want to win trophies and cups.”
You’ve played many roles, which are you best in?
“I’m competitive, I know what I want, which is to be the best version of myself. I can give a lot to this team, I just have to work hard every day.”
Is there a Milan player you look up to?
“I enjoyed watching Ronaldinho and Kaka. I spoke to Thiago Silva about Milan, which is the best team in Italy. I can’t wait to show off my skills.”
Have Inter approached you in the past?
“People were reading about this, but I haven’t spoken to anyone at Inter. When my agent told me about Milan, I didn’t even think twice.”
How can Serie A improve you?
“I have to get to know it better, I have to adapt.”
At Milan you’ll find Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek, who also played at Chelsea and are doing well at Milan…
“I made my choice on my own. I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on around me. I learned a lot at Chelsea. What can I bring here? It depends on the manager’s requests.”
Have they told you what the Milan derby is like?
“I know the derby. I don’t know the Milan derby very well, but I spoke to some team-mates about it and they told me it’s the match.”
At Milan you’re at the centre of the project, compared to Chelsea…
“I want to be competitive and win trophies, that’s my goal. I want to improve in every training session.”
How do you assess your career?
“I want more. I’m competitive, I want to achieve my goals. I always want to improve, I’ll give it my all.”
How exciting will it be to play at San Siro?
“It’ll be a great feeling. When I played here, I beat Italy. I felt a great atmosphere. I can’t wait to discover this stadium.”
4321 just makes sense to me. Him and puli behind leao soubds dangerous with modric playing that deep lying playmaker. The only problem is we don’t have any defenders I trust with that formation. Don’t really have a true right back and our left back isn’t good enough but maybe he would be better at defending closer to our goal bc right now he looks out-of water playing as a wing back.
With that formation and Leao, Pulišić and Nkunku in starting lineup, who are their subs apart from Gimenez and Saele? As much as I’d like to see 4321 or 433, we’re a bit short in that department. Well, we’re short everywhere besides midfield and even there we’re not able to play our strongest trio of Rabiot – Ricci – Modric because we have no subs for either. RLC and Fofana? Lmao.
I find it hard to believe that Milan’s two highest cost transfers Nkunku and Jashari are probably going to be on the bench if we continue with the 3-5-2. Seems like the money could have been put into Leoni, or Dean Huijsen. That would allow us to play a 4-3-3. But as is, I see Alegri playing Modric, Rabiot, and RLC. So Ricci and Jashari sit. I also see him playing Laeo, and Pulisic. So Nkunku sits. That’s of 100MM euros in transfer market fees sitting on the bench!
Also doesn’t seem like there is much love loss between Nkunku and RLC and Puli. Will be interesting to see how that works.
“I find it hard to believe that Milan’s two highest cost transfers Nkunku and Jashari are probably going to be on the bench ”
Do coaches give a f*** which of his players had the highest price tags? Nope. Do they care about their salaries? Nope. Do they care about their market value? Nope. The coaches will select his formations and starting 11s based on his thoughts on how to get the best results. Finances have ZERO effect on the decisions. ZERO. None. Nada.
And don’t come saying “But Furlani told Allegri to play Jashari/Nkunku because we paid a lot for them”. Max would squash the guy like a little bug he is. 😀 😀 😀
Allegri will never go away from his 352. He would rather be fired than change his ways.
This.