Samuel Chukwueze was named man of the match in Milan’s first game of the Serie A 2026-27 season against Torino. His debut as a wing-back was promising, but he will compete with Diego Moreira for a starting place this season.
Milan's coach Ruben Amorim, who joined the club this summer after a tough time at Manchester United, hinted that Chukwueze might play on both the right and left sides. Amorim explained that Saelemaekers plays differently, as he “wants to get inside,” while Chukwueze and Moreira prefer to stay wide.
Amorim emphasized that a big club like Milan needs two quality players for each position. He suggested that Chukwueze is his top choice on the right. If Chukwueze is not available, he believes Moreira’s similar playing style means the team “doesn’t suffer too much.”
Even with a strong start, Milan is only the fourth favorite to win the Serie A trophy this season. Inter Milan, Juventus, and Napoli are all seen as more likely to be champions.
Chukwueze played a key role in Milan's win against Torino. Milan made 75 passes in the final third, while Torino managed only 45. Milan took 19 shots compared to Torino’s 8, with four of Milan's shots on target. Chukwueze assisted Adrien Rabiot’s winning goal as Milan triumphed 2-1.
The speedy wing-back, along with Pervis Estupiñán on the left, will be vital for Milan's title hopes. Amorim’s 3-4-3 system relies on wing-backs pushing forward and being main creators. Chukwueze also displayed good defensive skills and work rate as Milan defended their lead late in the game. At times, Chukwueze will need to defend more like a full-back.
For Milan to compete with Inter, Chukwueze must provide more assists than ever before. His best league return was five assists during the 2022-23 season at Villarreal, where he also scored six goals. Last season at Fulham, he recorded four assists and three goals in just 10 Premier League starts and 13 appearances off the bench. Previously, at Villarreal, Chukwueze mostly played as a winger.
After the Torino match, Fabio Capello, writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, praised Chukwueze’s development. Capello felt that Chukwueze looked like a “completely different player.” A year earlier, Capello had criticized him, saying he struggled with the pressure of a big club.
Gazetta reported that convincing Chukwueze to learn Italian “is almost impossible.” He told the publication that he was “very happy” after the pre-season victory against Amorim’s former team, United, noting that the team executed their game plan well.
Chukwueze praised Amorim’s coaching skills and said he wants to make the most of the trust the coach has in him. He called his chance to return to Milan after a loan spell a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
He is enjoying his new role as a wing-back, stating he had never played there before. Chukwueze mentioned that belief and commitment will be key for long-term success. Whenever he made a mistake, Amorim helped him understand what to do next.
Chukwueze spoke highly of Gonçalo Ramos, appreciating his all-around abilities. Ramos can drop deep but also has the speed to outrun defenders. He can also win headers. Chukwueze added that Ramos is a “fantastic” person.
Milan has other players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alphadjo Cissè, who are expected to score from the two number 10 positions. Loftus-Cheek has scored six league goals in a season twice before, once in 2018-19 for Chelsea and again in 2023-24 for Milan.
Cissè is only 19 years old and still growing. Paolo Sammarco, his former youth coach at Verona, praised his ability to play in Serie A as if he is in the park with friends. But the young player is just starting his senior football journey.
Much of the pressure will be on Ramos to win matches. His performances may have a bigger impact than Chukwueze’s on whether Amorim’s new team can rise to the top of Italian football.
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