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Samuel Chukwueze's proposed January exit may be due to more than just on-field performances
Serie A giants AC Milan are reportedly considering a January exit for Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze, despite his recent arrival at the club last season.
While his on-field performances have been underwhelming, the reasons behind Rossoneri's eagerness to part ways with the talented forward appear to go deeper than just his contributions on the pitch.
Chukwueze’s Milan struggles
The Nigerian winger arrived AC Milan from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 with high expectations after a €20 million transfer.
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However, he has struggled to make the right flank his own, competing with a re-energised Christian Pulisic for the starting spot.
Despite showing flashes of his potential in the Champions League, where he scored against Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle last season, his overall impact has been limited, with only one goal in 12 Serie A starts last season while failing to establish himself as a regular starter under former manager Stefano Pioli.
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With the arrival of new manager Paulo Fonseca, Chukwueze’s situation has become even more complicated as the Portuguese gaffer prefers Alvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham up front, with Pulisic on the right wing.
Why AC Milan are desperate to sell Chukwueze
Fonseca’s set up leaves Chukwueze on the fringes of the squad, prompting the Milan hierarchy to consider selling him while there is still interest from Premier League sides like Aston Villa and West Ham, as well as a possible return to La Liga with Atletico Madrid.
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Beyond Chukwueze’s on-field struggles, AC Milan face a growing issue with the lack of homegrown Italian players in their squad, which could have serious consequences for their future transfer strategy.
Both Serie A and UEFA competitions require clubs to register a certain number of players who were either developed in the club's academy or in other Italian clubs, and the Rossoneri currently lack enough players to fulfil these criteria.
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With few options to meet these quotas and long-term injuries to other Italian players like Marco Sportiello and Alessandro Florenzi, Milan’s shortage of homegrown players is becoming a liability.
As a result, the club may look to offload foreign players, including Chukwueze, to create space for new Italian recruits as they work to resolve this growing issue, making his potential exit a combination of tactical, financial, and regulatory factors.
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