Christopher Nkunku is at work at Milanello following his move to AC Milan late in the window, and Massimiliano Allegri has a true wild card.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall that Nkunku trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday and Rafael Leao was the one who introduced him to the dressing room, one that is 12 players down due to international call-ups.
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Among the absentees is Mike Maignan, a great friend of Nkunku. It’s no coincidence that when it came to choosing his spot, the Frenchman asked which one was the goalkeeper’s and sat next to it, after also greeting his fellow countryman Youssouf Fofana.
An attacking wild card
Fans expect great things from Nkunku, both because of his past as a top player in Germany (Player of the Season in 2021-22 and Bundesliga top scorer in 2022-23) and the fee paid by Milan (€37m, the most expensive purchase of the summer) to snatch him from Chelsea.
However, Nkunku hasn’t played a match since July 13th, the day of the Club World Cup final victory against PSG, the team that launched him into senior football. After that, no friendlies and mostly individual training sessions before the move to Milan, so it’s logical he needs time to get into shape.
It’s unlikely the 27-year-old will start immediately, although Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez will likely be feeling the strain of the long trip to America (for international duty). Meanwhile, Rafael Leao will have just recovered from the calf injury that kept him out against Cremonese and Lecce.
Either way, there’s still curiosity about his position, especially after Allegri’s words at the Via del Mare after the win over Lecce when he stated: “I don’t know where I’ll use him.” At present, the obvious choice seems to be fielding him in a two-man attack in the 3-5-2 system.
A sudden change in formation is out of the question, but the system could change in-game depending on the needs of the match itself. Perhaps the sacrifice of Pulisic on the flank, could allow Nkunku and Rafa to form a high-speed pairing up front.
Christopher, however, has great versatility among his strengths. As a first or second striker, attacking midfielder or winger, he adapts quickly. So watch out for surprises: yet another surprise move from Max could be just around the corner.
Yeah, makes a lot of sense to replace a top Milan scorer with a Chelsea bench player who has scored only 6 goals combined over the past two years.
That’s what’s going to happen. Pulisic was a fool not to push to leave as soon as Allegri was named manager. Maybe he’s waiting until after the WC.
“That’s what’s going to happen. ”
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
I promise I’ll eat a bag of sh1t if that happens. Some of you guys are so fng delirious. Pulisic benched??? Wow!!! Are you fng kidding me??!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀
Well, Milan top scorer was also a Chelsea bench warmer prior to signing with Milan.
The Chelsea bench warmer scored 18 goals combined last 2 seasons at Chelsea.
Pulisic scorer combined 9 goals in his last 2 seasons as a Chelsea bench warmer.
Oh you wanna count just EPL goals?
Last 2 seasons Nkunku, 6 combined EPL goals.
Last 2 seasons at Chelsea for Pulisic, 7 combined EPL goals.
Everything today people say about Nkunku, were saying about Pulisic.
Nkunku and Pulisic will start together next to Leao. Milan didn’t spend 40 mil and gave 5 mil a salary for Nkunku to come of the bench.
Nkunku win UCL? Didn’t think so.
Right, because football is tennis and you win on your own.
Then, Nkunku won the conference league and Club World Cup.
I agree that given our attacking options, it would be short sighted to use any formation that shores not allow for three up top. I think it’s very advantageous to have three attackers that can interchange flanks and positions as to not give the opposition any references. Allegri likes doing that.
But they will need to develop chemistry with Nkunku. But where does that leave Santi? In and out with Nkunku?
Pulisic better not get screwed over.
This site will never like Puli. Then he continues to humiliate them with his team-oriented results. Nothing new here.
There are other formations that might include everyone, which of course they don’t mention here.
I do believe Allegri likes Puli and I don’t expect him to throw him under the bus. He’ll continue to contribute, and this site will continue to be sad.
The thing is that so many people here seem to be video gamers who don’t understand real-life football. They think the coaches are forced to use a template-formation and use the players how they used in video games. As if the coaches cannot develop own tactics to fit the players he has available.
“You cannot play Nkunku, Leao & Pulisic at the same time!!!” Why the f*** not? Idiots.
Maybe I should gather a list of all the idiots who think Pulisic will be benched and ridicule them for the rest of their lives for being THAT stupid. Unbelievable.
I’d like to see a battle of partnerships between
Leao/nkunku vs giminez/pulisic
Or OGs vs the newboys
Leao/pulisic vs giminez/nkunku
I’d like to see a 4 -2 – 3 – 1 with Gimenez up top Rafael and puli on the flanks and nkunku as a second striker/attacking mid. Ricci/modric …rabiot/fofana/loftuscheek
Are we going back to 4-2-3-1
—————-Gimenez—————
Leao———–Nkuku——–Pulisic
Saelemaekers at RB?
Possible, or just back-up to Leao and Pulisic..
@rimp That would make sense but this is Allegri. He doesn’t have the courage to do that. No more than 2 attacking players allowed on the pitch at 1 time.
💪🏻
Have you seen the number of positions that he can play well in? Of course Allegri would say that he doesn’t know where to play him. He has to figure out where Milan are weak at first before plugging him in there.
This. Finally someone with brains entered the room. 😀
I actually really liked the suggestion of a 3421 with Nkunku and Pulisic behind Leao as a CF. Pulisic can +- act like an extra midfielder instead of Fofana (he is a way more suitable box crasher). Modric and Rabiot to tidy up the midfield. Saelemaekers gets to keep his position on the right flank. I think this setup would do extremely well. Also because secretly Leao is a good header (jumps high, good timing, good aim).
Everyone is a coach, just waiting to see how allegri will make his formation, Everyone is entitled to his opinion; Alas u cannot go there and tell them what to do, just talk your own as a fan…chicken….