Samuel Chukwueze, the Nigerian forward, was anything but a factor for Milan last season. Arriving from Villarreal with a hefty payment made to the Submarino Amarillo, he was expected to make a big impact given his performance in Spain. He was remembered as a dangerous player, capable of seriously troubling defenses in La Liga. Known for his ability to take on defenders and often delivering brilliant plays, he came to Milanello with the promise of providing excitement. However, what was seen around San Siro seemed like a distant relative of the player everyone was anticipating.
The first few months were quite underwhelming; it seemed like he couldn't find his rhythm and took on all the traits of a Charles De Ketelaere 2.0. As the months went by, the situation slightly improved, with some glimpses of his potential shown to the fans, but never fully. He never gave the impression that the money spent to bring him to Italy was well spent. However, in the match against Manchester City, a completely different Samuel Chukwueze was seen, one who seems to have found chemistry with Paulo Fonseca that was never achieved with Stefano Pioli.
So, which is the real Samuel Chukwueze? The one seen for a not particularly exciting season under Stefano Pioli, or the one observed for a match under Paulo Fonseca? If it's the latter version, he would need to prove it throughout the preseason to become a real asset for Milan, potentially even to the point of taking the starting spot from Christian Pulisic. And remember, with many matches scheduled for the upcoming season, having a deep starting eleven will be essential for competing on multiple fronts.
Source: Pianeta Milan
