Tag: Chukwueze

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen is confident that Samuel Chukwueze will start shining for the AC Milan as the Nigerian has struggled during his first few months and is currently out with an injury.

Osimhen stated that he would bet his life on the winger, also highlighting the fact that he struggled in his first few months at Napoli.

“Chuk is a great talent for his age. I also struggled the first two months in Italy. Serie A is a very competitive league. He came from a different league, I would bet my life on his talent. He must believe in his talent and it will start to show,” he stated.

Osimhen, 24, had a lucrative offer from Saudi side Al Hilal this summer that was reportedly rejected by Napoli.

Asked if he would rather play in the MLS or Saudi Pro League if given the same conditions, Osimhen said: “If I had the same conditions, I would go to MLS.”

Osimhen did, however, praise the Saudi Pro League.

Read Also: Injured Chukwueze to miss Milan’s ties against Juventus, PSG

“They are trying to develop their league, which is good,” Osimhen said.

“One [Ronaldo] of the greatest of all time has gone there. Because of his [Ronaldo’s] influence, they have attracted a lot of talented players to also go there. So for me it’s really good, they are trying to build their league into one of the best. For me they are doing something amazing.”

Osimhen has yet to make a decision about his future. Despite months of ongoing talks over a contract extension, the Nigeria international has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal with his current agreement expiring in June 2025.

Osimhen, who joined Napoli in the summer of 2020 from Lille, scored 31 goals last season to help them win the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.

Milan will be without striker Samuel Chukwueze for the upcoming big games against Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain after he sustained an injury on international duty.

The Nigeria forward sustained a hamstring injury and was ruled out of his team’s match against Mozambique.

It is not clear how bad the damage is, but the statement from Milan mentions there is a lesion to the femoral bicep.

Read Also: Dortmund’s coach dares Chukwueze’s Milan

This type of injury would usually require at least a couple of weeks out, more likely closer to a month, depending on the depth of the lesion.

It is the worst possible timing, coming ahead of a run of fixtures that will see the Rossoneri take on Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli between Serie A and the Champions League.

Theo Hernandez and goalkeeper Mike Maignan are suspended for the top of the table showdown with Juventus.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ismael Bennacer, Mattia Caldara and Rade Krunic are also struggling with injuries.

Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzić is confident that his side will produce a great performance today when they tackle Samuel Chukwueze’s AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League tie.

Borussia Dortmund will host the Italian giants at the Signal Iduna Park for the second group stage fixture of the Champions League as both teams will be searching for their first victory this season in the competition.

Terzić is aware of the quality of his opponents and was full of praise for Milan in his press conference.

“They are good and excellent on a technical level. They combine intensity and technique and they are always in a position to win. We have to give a level performance. We have to defend well, but then be ready when the match is intense,” said Terzić.

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Dortmund began their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 loss away to Paris Saint Germain, but Terzić believes there were positives to take from the game and is expecting a different challenge against AC Milan.

“Milan’s way of playing is different, we will have new challenges and we will try to do our best. We did well against PSG, we hope to continue on that path.”

Dortmund’s group has been labelled as the ‘group of death’ with no easy games for each team competing.

However, Terzić has set targets for his team and believes that with the strong support of Dortmund fans, his side can make it out of the group.

AC Milan is planning to unleash attack’s quartet of Samuel Chukwueze, Yacine Adli Christian Pulisic, and Noah Okafor when they visit Cagliari today in this Serie A tie.

Milan will miss the service of their inspiring goalkeeper, Mike Maignan and Luka Jovic who are not travelling to Cagliari for the next Serie A game.

The Rossoneri yesterday left for Sardinia as the players arrived at Malpensa Airport in Milan.

Today, they are expected to visit Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari in Serie A Round 6.

Maignan and Jovic have remained at Milanello, so they won’t even be on the bench tomorrow.

Read Also: Pioli assures Chukwueze of more playing times

The French keeper has been training with the team but has not yet recovered from a slight muscle injury suffered during a 0-0 draw against Newcastle last week. Marco Sportiello will replace him against Cagliari.

Stefano Pioli will likely rotate his squad today, leaving Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao on the bench and starting an ‘unusual’ front three with Pulisic, Chukwueze and Okafor.

There will be more changes in midfield with Adli expected to start his first game this season replacing the injured Rade Krunic. Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will complete Milan’s three-man midfield.

Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria will return to Milan’s XI after missing Saturday’s game against Hellas Verona. Fikayo Tomori is tipped to start with one between Simon Kjaer and Malick Thiaw.

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has insisted that new signing Samuel Chukwueze will get his chance in the first team as the season progresses.

The Nigeria international has played just 87 minutes of Serie A football since making the switch from Villarreal in the off-season as he came off the bench in the Rossoneri’s opening four matches.

Chukwueze was handed his first Milan start on Tuesday against Newcastle in the UEFA Champions League, featuring for 61 minutes before being replaced by Christian Pulisic.

Read Also:UCL: Chukwueze denied as Newcastle hold Milan

Pioli revealed after the 0-0 draw at the San Siro that the 24-year-old winger will get more playing time in the months to come, along with fellow summer acquisitions Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Yunus Musah.

“Musah, Loftus, and Chuku need to play. They were ready and needed game-time,” the Italian tactician said in the post-match press conference. “With matches every three days, they will get their chances. I have many players; others may feature against Verona.”

 Following Saturday’s humiliating 5-1 defeat in the Milan derby, AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli is said to be tinkering with his line up with the possibility of handling Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze  his first start in tomorrow’s UEFA Champions League tie against  Newcastle.

Milan will open their UCL account at the San Siro where they were roundly beaten by their neighbours Inter at the weekend in a  match Pioli stuck with some of trusted players including American Christian Pulisic ahead of Chukwueze.

But several Italian news outlets claimed yesterday that Chukwueze will have a head start for Milan against Newcastle complete with their ex- Milan Sandro Tonali who completed a €80m summer move to Tyneside.

According to Football Italia, Pioli had until now been reticent to make adjustments to his line-up, but was forced into changing the defence against Inter when Fikayo Tomori was suspended and Pierre Kalulu injured.

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Tomori is available again and should start against Newcastle, although Sky Sport Italia suggest some other tweaks from the coach too.

The outlet added that Chukwueze who was snapped up from Villarreal for €28m including bonuses and could get his first start in the Milan jersey, therefore sending  Pulisic to the bench.

In a related report, Calciomercato.com claimed Pioli would have no choice  than to hand over starting  first team shirts to some  fresh  Summer signings  after the trio of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tijjani Reijndrrs and Christian Pulisic  had been regulars since the start of the season. 

The report  said  that Chukwueze, Yunus Musah and Noah Okafor might  be given a look in , adding the Nigerian forward could even get the chance from start against Newcastle, replacing Pulisic on the right flank.

Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze said he’d rather win one World Cup than the Champions League three times and believes Kelechi Iheanacho William Paul Troost-Ekong will likely become coaches at the end of their careers.

The new Rossoneri signing while  on international duty with Nigeria,  has spoken about his first months with the Rossoneri in an interview with Football Fans Tribe.

 “I already have a teacher for Italian, that’s what the coach wants so I am gradually learning and adapting to the language and everything,” he said.

The ex-Villarreal winger was also asked who within the current Nigeria squad has the most chances to become a coach in the future.

 “Kelechi Iheanacho, as he always talks about football and tactics and then William Paul Troost-Ekong because he’s a leader,” he said.

Read Also: Wizkid is my favourite musician, says Samuel Chukwueze

Troost-Ekong is a familiar face for Serie A fans, having played for Udinese and Salernitana during his career. He has scored one goal in 74 Serie A appearances and joined Greek side PAOK from Watford last summer after a six-month loan at Salernitana.

Lastly, Chukwueze was asked whether he’d prefer winning the World Cup once or the Champions League three times.

 “I think I prefer one World Cup. Winning the World Cup would be crazy for Nigeria, I don’t think I’d sleep for three days,” he said, smiling.

 “I wouldn’t even pick my coach’s calls. I will not pick up his calls for one month if we win.”

Chukwueze joined Milan from Villarreal in a permanent €20m deal this summer and has made three appearances as a substitute for the Rossoneri this season.