Samuel Chukwueze: Battling for starting spot at Milan, By Fidelis Nwagwu

Following the Torino game, Fabio Capello, writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, was among those to praise Chukwueze’s transformation. Chukwueze struck the former Milan coach as a “completely different player.” In 2024, one year on from Chukwueze’s signing, Capello had criticised the Nigerian and suggested he was struggling with the pressure of playing for such a big club.

Samuel Chukwueze earned the man of the match award in Milan’s opening match of the Serie A 2026-27 season against Torino. As promising as his first performance as a wing-back was, the Nigerian will have to compete with Diego Moreira for a starting spot this season.

Milan coach Ruben Amorim, who signed with the club this summer after a fraught spell at Manchester United, has suggested that Chukwueze may be used on both the right and left flanks. Amorim said Saelemaekers was a different kind of player – one who “wants to get inside” – whereas Chukwueze and Moreira are more comfortable playing wide.

Amorim said that it was important for a big club like Milan to have two quality players for each position. The coach hinted that Chukwueze was his first choice on the right, saying that if the Nigerian wasn’t available then Moreira’s similar characteristics would mean the side “doesn’t suffer too much”. 

Despite Milan’s strong start to the season, they are only fourth favourites to lift the Serie A trophy, according to sports betting in South Africa. Their city rivals Inter, Juventus, and Napoli are all considered more likely title winners. 

Chukwueze’s Qualities

Chukwueze helped Milan dominate against Torino; his side made 75 passes in the final third compared to Torino’s 45. Milan took 19 shots to Torino’s 8 (four to one on target). Chukwueze set up Adrien Rabiot’s decisive goal as Milan won 2-1. 

The flying wing-back, like Pervis Estupiñán on the left, will be crucial to Milan’s season if they are to mount a title challenge. Amorim’s 3-4-3 system depends on the wing-backs getting forward and being among the chief creators. The Nigerian also showed defensive qualities and workrate as Milan sat deeper late on when protecting their lead. In such circumstances, Chukwueze will have to play more like a full-back. 

If Milan hopes to compete with Inter, he will also have to contribute more assists than in any season he has managed previously. Chukwueze’s best league return was five assists for Villarreal in 2022-23, when he also scored six. There were signs that he could progress at Fulham last season, when he managed four league assists and three goals in just 10 Premier League starts (13 sub appearances). Last season, and back in his Villarreal days, Chukwueze was playing further up the pitch – most often as a winger. 

Following the Torino game, Fabio Capello, writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, was among those to praise Chukwueze’s transformation. Chukwueze struck the former Milan coach as a “completely different player.” In 2024, one year on from Chukwueze’s signing, Capello had criticised the Nigerian and suggested he was struggling with the pressure of playing for such a big club.

He Might Not Speak Great Italian, but Chukwueze is Happy at Milan

According to Gazetta, convincing the wing-back to speak Italian “is almost impossible”. Chukwueze told the publication that he was “very happy” after the pre-season win against Amorim’s old team United, and that the team executed their plan perfectly. 

Chukwueze praised Amorim’s coaching ability, and said that he has to make the most of the trust the coach has placed in him. The Nigerian described his chance to return to Milan after the loan spell as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” 

He was already enjoying his new wing-back role, and told Gazetta that he had never played there in his career. Chukwueze said that belief and commitment would be crucial to making it work long-term. Every time the player had made a mistake, Amorim had told him what he needed to do.

Milan’s Attacking Power

Chukwueze also spoke about the importance of Gonçalo Ramos, praising his all-round game. Ramos is capable of dropping deep but has the pace to go beyond defenders. The striker can also challenge in the air. On top of that, Chukwueze said, Ramos is a “fantastic” person. 

Milan have other players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alphadjo Cissè, who should contribute goals from the two number 10 positions. The former has twice scored six league goals in a season (2018-19 for Chelsea and 2023-24 for Milan). 

Cissè is only 19 years old and still developing. Paolo Sammarco, his former youth coach at Verona, praised his ability to play in Serie A as though he’s playing with his friends in the park, but the Italian with Guinean roots is only just starting his senior football career. 

Much of the onus will be on Ramos to win matches. His performances – even more so than Chukwueze’s – may dictate whether Amorim’s new team can return to the top of Italian football.