The Rossoneri attack is still untapped: Leao sidelined by a calf issue, Gimenez distracted by rumors of a possible exit, and Nkunku slowed down by the market’s timing. Now they are all ready to push for the restart of the league, each in his own way: Santi seeking momentum across the ocean, Rafa working on his recovery at Milanello, and the latest arrival aiming to surprise both rivals and Allegri. While San Siro waits for Leao, the attack might end up with new faces.
Before watching free practice at the Monza GP yesterday afternoon, Rafa trained separately, following his recovery plan to the letter. Will that be enough to claim the lead role in attack against Bologna? Too soon to say. Several steps are still missing: the first goal is to rejoin group training, which is still uncertain. If that happens on Tuesday, when the squad resumes work after three days off granted by Max, he would be considered fit to start. If the return is delayed, starting from the first minute becomes harder to imagine.
Confidence remains high: Rafa is training well and everything points to a long-awaited league debut. Possibly even as a center-forward. He had played as a No. 9 in the Coppa Italia, scoring and then getting injured within minutes, as pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Like him, Nkunku is also chasing peak form. Not because of injuries but due to a disrupted preparation: first the trip to the US for the Club World Cup (six games and one goal, with 13 minutes in the July final), then an August restart in London with a fitness coach assigned to players on the transfer list. With reduced intensity and no Premier League debut, Nkunku arrived from Chelsea less prepared than others. At Milanello though, he adapted quickly and has recently stepped up his workload. His pace impressed Max. Rossoneri fans will get to see him in Serie A soon, whether starting or more likely coming off the bench.
Milan supporters will also see Santi Gimenez again. The club had tried until the last hours of the window to include him in the swap deal for Roma’s Dovbyk. Another striker could have walked out of the tunnel instead of him, the Mexican signed from the Netherlands. In the swirl of transfer rumors, even confirmed publicly by sporting director Tare, Gimenez still managed to keep his balance on and off the pitch. At Lecce, where he started, he missed a clear chance in front of goal but also scored and celebrated with the fans before the goal was ruled out for offside. Off the pitch he stood firm: he always said he wanted to stay with Milan and fight for his place despite competition. Last winter he chose Milan, the club he supported as a child, so summer was too soon to walk away. Despite a system that doesn’t highlight his strengths, Santi decided to stay. To compete with Pulisic’s quality, Leao’s talent, and Nkunku’s unpredictability. His chase for a starting shirt begins in the United States, at the Oakland Coliseum in California. There he will face Japan with Mexico, then South Korea. Demanding games for the body, but possibly good for morale. That is what Santiago Gimenez needs most.
