Samuel Chukwueze has been handed a new role at AC Milan, and his first Serie A performance under Rúben Amorim has already changed Fabio Capello’s view of the Nigerian, Footynaija reports.
Chukwueze played as a right wing-back as Milan began their league campaign with a 2-1 victory over Torino at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Sunday.
The position was a major change for a player who has spent most of his career as an attacking winger. Amorim, however, trusted Chukwueze to cover the right side, attack when Milan had the ball and drop into defence when Torino took control.
The plan produced results. Chukwueze caused problems for Torino in the first half. In the 30th minute, he cut inside and fired a left-footed shot that goalkeeper Diego Mascardi stopped with his foot. He then created an opening for Alphadjo Cissé, whose header went wide.
Milan took the lead in the 64th minute through Cissé, with Adrien Rabiot involved in the move. Two minutes later, Chukwueze supplied the cross that allowed Rabiot to score Milan’s second goal.
The Nigeria international finished with one assist, four chances created and nine touches inside Torino’s penalty area. He was replaced by Alexis Saelemaekers in the 66th minute. Capello believes the performance points to a major change in the winger.
“Moving on to AC Milan, however, we’ve already begun to see some of Amorim’s influence, starting with a very intense first half,” Capello wrote for La Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by Livescore.
“The Rossoneri have already shown a desire to implement what their coach asks of them: a game plan, for a real match from the start. Speaking of which, Chukwueze certainly deserves a mention, as he struck me as a completely different player than he was two years ago.”
That view is a sharp change from Capello’s earlier assessment. After Chukwueze’s €20m move from Villarreal in 2023, Capello described him as a “shy player” who was struggling with the pressure of the Milan shirt, which he said required “a considerable amount of personality”.
In December 2024, Capello was even more direct: “Unfortunately, Chukwueze has never really clicked and there is no alternative with similar characteristics.”
Amorim’s decision to move Chukwueze deeper could now give the 27-year-old another chance to establish himself at Milan.
His next opportunity comes against Venezia in Milan’s first home league match of the season.
Related Post
