Nigerian ace vows to win titles with Rossoneri
Nigeria international striker Samuel Chukwueze has revealed the inspirational figures behind his switch from Villarreal to AC Milan, after being quizzed by the Italian media at his official unveiling yesterday.
Apart from his compatriot and Super Eagles teammate and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, the 24-year-old Chukwueze who is a great admirer of former Dutch star, Arjen Robben, said he was bowled over by the ongoing renaissance at AC Milan after a heart-to-heart discussion with coach Stefano Pioli, adding that he had long been a great admirer of the Rossoneri following the legend of former World Player of the Year, Kaka, at the San Siro.
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Both Chukwueze and Osimhen have been like Siamese twins since their days at the U17 national team level where they played pivotal roles to help Nigeria win a record fifth FIFA World Cup at Chile 2015.
“Victor is my best friend; we’ve played together since we were 17. We started out together, and I’ve often asked him about his experience in Italy,” Chukwueze said as much, according to the club’s official website.“ I told him about AC Milan’s interest in me, and he told me that this is a big club with a great history. He also spoke well of the coach.
“He advised me to come here, although we often joked about the fact that he wanted me to join him at Napoli. However, I told him that they wouldn’t beat us this year.
“Robben was a fantastic player in my position; he had indisputable qualities and I try to draw inspiration from him.”
Yet Chukwueze admitted his fond admiration for Milan based on the exploits of former Brazilian forward, Kaka, having made the switch from La Liga to Serie A for career improvement.
He continued: “When I think about this glorious club’s past, many players and trophies spring to mind. I especially admired Kaka: I remember his most important goals in the Champions League, and it’s impossible to forget the one he scored against Manchester United.
“I want to make an impact and win trophies with this team. This is why I’m here and why AC Milan signed me. I want to write my name in this club’s history.”
Chukwueze, who made a cameo debut in the final minutes of the 1-1 draw against Monza in the Trofeo Berlusconi on Monday, which the Rossoneri won on penalties, equally expressed his respect for coach Pioli even as he praised his teammates for giving him a warm welcome at Milan.
“Before completing my move here, I spoke to coach Pioli,” he revealed. “He first called me when I was away on international duty, and he talked to me about tactics and what he wants from me.
“He made it clear that he believed in my qualities and really wanted me to come. He has a precise idea of how he wants to play, and I believe in what he wants to do. He’s also a fantastic man and a great coach.”
He said of his new teammates, including Swiss-Nigerian, Noah Okafor: “”It’s been great being with my new teammates ever since I first met them. They gave me a fantastic welcome and immediately made me feel at home.
“The group is united, and I can’t wait to continue working with them. I’ve already formed a close bond with Yacine Adli – he’s a very nice guy and helps me out – as well as Okafor and Leao,” he added,