Christian Pulisic’s injury has once again changed the situation at Milan. Allegri, partly forced to rebuild his attack ahead of the match against Fiorentina, is assessing several options to keep balance and effectiveness up front.
It is still early to say who will start alongside Santiago Gimenez on Sunday against La Viola, though at the moment the most likely choice appears to be Christopher Nkunku, helped by the strong performances he showed during the recent international break. The Frenchman, who has mostly been used as a substitute so far, is seen as being ahead of Rafael Leao, who is still regaining full fitness after his calf injury.
Christopher Nkunku ahead of Rafael Leao?
The final decisions will be made close to the match, but Nkunku currently seems favored to start over Leao. The Frenchman provides movement, intensity, and work rate, qualities Allegri values highly, especially in a tactical setup where space coverage and off-ball effort are essential. Leao, while a top attacking piece, lacks consistency in these areas and is still not at peak condition, which could lead him to start again from the bench and serve as a potential impact option later in the match.
Possible surprise
The unexpected name for the Fiorentina game could be Ruben Loftus-Cheek. For now, the Englishman is not part of this attacking rotation, but he could soon compete for a starting spot alongside Nkunku and Leao.
Adaptable and powerful, the number 8 offers an unconventional solution already tested earlier this season, adding strength and depth to the attack with Santiago Gimenez. Yet this idea may be dropped since Adrien Rabiot is not fully fit after a knock with the national team, which could push Loftus-Cheek back into midfield next to Luka Modric and Yossouf Fofana.
The coming days of training at Milanello will therefore be key for Allegri to define his attacking plan, as he seeks the right mix of pragmatism and creativity in pursuit of consistency.
