Tough times for balloon sellers. Christopher Nkunku inflated one after scoring against Lecce in the Coppa Italia, but in the league, he hasn’t had a chance to celebrate yet. The red balloon he keeps tucked in his sock every match is still there, waiting for better days. Milan fans are starting to worry: Nkunku has zero goals in over 250 league minutes. Four hours and fifteen minutes on the pitch without scoring. That’s a lot.
Nkunku and four difficult matches...
In Parma on Saturday night, things didn’t go well. In one full hour, he had one shot saved by Suzuki and completed only 12 consecutive passes. He wasn’t necessarily bad, but he was peripheral to the match, which is fine for a referee, not for a striker. On paper, his partnership with Rafa Leao looks promising because both have skill and can create with the ball at their feet, but in practice, they haven’t produced much. Against Roma, Atalanta, and Pisa, things weren’t much better, whether he started or came off the bench.
The 37-million euros man:
His price tag matters because Milan spent 37 million plus bonuses for him, more than what they invested in January for Santiago Gimenez. That’s an exception for a club used to targeting different player profiles, usually around 20 million. Nkunku was a clear exception, and the reasoning behind the deal was sound: the player’s quality isn’t in question. Between 2021 and 2023, he scored 36 goals in the Bundesliga, is a French international, and can play multiple roles, center forward, second striker, or even attacking midfielder, given his past as a central midfielder.
Why is it not working?
The plan was to make him a key player, a source of energy in an attack often dependent on counterattacks, transitions, and individual plays. Three months later, two questions arise: why isn’t it working, and was the investment too much? Adapting to Serie A isn’t easy, and he hasn’t been fully fit physically. He arrived on August 30, after playing in the Club World Cup and spending the summer thinking about transfers. Still, it’s early November, and Nkunku hasn’t forgotten how to score. The real issue is whether he can become a starter and fit into Allegri’s system, which demands hard work from strikers and precision when chances come. Last season in the Premier League, Nkunku had the best pass completion rate per 90 minutes, a striking stat, but less valuable at Milan, where attackers aren’t asked to dictate play or improve ball circulation, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
Nkunku and the selection dilemma...
Nkunku is with the French national team this week, who face Ukraine on Thursday and Azerbaijan on Sunday. A goal would help, as he’s known to rely on confidence, too much time on the bench tends to affect him. Allegri won’t use three forwards, so there’s a limited number of spots. Rafa Leao has secured one. Santiago Gimenez is injured and out. That leaves Nkunku and Christian Pulisic competing for a place in the derby and beyond. The favorite is clear: CP11. Pulisic missed a huge chance in Parma, one the size of the Teatro Regio, but he hasn’t lost his sense for goal. Milan convinced the United States not to call him up, so Pulisic will train at Milanello. Prediction for November 9: on Sunday the 23rd at 20:45, he’ll be on the pitch for the Serie A anthem. Nkunku will be on the bench, with a balloon in his sock.
