Chukwueze explains why he flopped at Milan

Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze provided some reasons for his struggles in the Serie A. The 26-year-old was on the books of Milan for two seasons but failed to make his mark before he was shipped off to Fulham, where he is currently thriving.

Samuel is in the Super Eagles camp for the AFCON, where he was asked about his time at Milan. He spoke fondly of the city and the people; he expressed an openness to return, and he suggested that football in the Serie A was not well suited to his style. 

“Yes, I miss it. It’s my second home,” he said about Milan. “My family stayed there, so I miss it. It’s a beautiful city, but everyone has to focus on their own lives. They’re doing well, and I wish them all the best, especially since I’m still a Milan player, since I’m on loan.”

Explaining why he flopped in the Italian capital, he explained, saying, “I think I wasn’t given the time in Serie A and didn’t have the opportunities I wanted. But that’s what happens in football.

“I have to keep working hard, and maybe I’ll return to Serie A or LaLiga, or I’ll stay in the Premier League. English tactics are probably better suited to my style of play than Italian ones.”

Chukwueze joined Milan from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 on a five-year contract for a reported €21.1 million plus €7 million in add-ons, arriving off the back of a strong spell in LaLiga with Villarreal, where he scored 37 goals and provided 29 assists in 207 appearances for the Spanish club. 

At Milan, however, he never established himself as a regular starter; across 70 appearances in all competitions, he scored just 8 goals and provided 6 assists, with his Serie A total a paltry 4 goals and 5 assists in 51 league appearances 

His struggles contributed to Milan agreeing to send him on loan to Fulham last summer (with a €25–30m buy option). He is currently thriving under Marco Silva, evident in his Man of the Match performance against Manchester City.