AC Milan have already set machinery in motion to off load Nigeria international striker Samuel Chukwueze after his poor run with the Serie A giants.
Samuel, Acquired from Villarreal for €20 million plus €8 million in bonuses in the summer of 2023, Chukwueze has struggled to make an impact after reportedly playing only 194 minutes across Serie A and Champions League matches.
Accordingly, Milan are reportedly revisiting their interest in Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi, a player who has long been on the club’s radar.
Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Berardi’s recent performance in Sassuolo’s 5-0 victory over Cittadella has reignited discussions about his potential move to a bigger club, adding Milan’s renewed interest comes at a time when they are facing challenges with their current right-wing options with words rife that Chukwueze has yet to pull his weight unlike American Christian Pulisic.
Yet For Milan to pursue Berardi, they would likely need to offload Chukwueze first, both for financial reasons and to comply with squad registration rules.
Chukwueze who is already being linked to clubs in Saudi Arabia, has contract runs until 2028 with a net salary of €4 million per season.
Meanwhile, Chukwueze has been given the carte blanche to resume training ahead of this weekend Serie A tie against Udinese.
Chukwueze was out injured while on international duty with the Super Eagles against Libya in Uyo hence he was not available for the ill-fated reverse fixture in Benghazi which was alter cancelled following the now famous Al Albraq Airport fiasco.
According to Calciomercato, Chukwueze has since undergone thorough medical examinations, including diagnostic tests on his injured biceps femoris and has now been given the clear to resume practice session ahead of the Serie A game against Udinese.
Milan have three potential attacking transfer targets ahead of the January transfer window, but three of their current stars may have to be sacrificed in order to make any of those moves happen, according reports in the Italian media.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there are three potential wingers that Milan could be interested in ahead of the January transfer window.
One of them is former Bologna winger Andreas Skov Olsen, currently in Belgium with Club Brugge, where he has netted 31 league goals from 81 appearances. The 28-time Denmark international has netted four from his first 10 outings of the 2024-25 campaign.
Another option could be PSV winger Noa Lang. The 25-year-old has fallen slightly out of favour in Eindhoven and could be available for a fee in the region of €15m in a few months’ time.
The third option is former Watford and Marseille winger Ismalia Sarr, currently on the books of Crystal Palace. He is also expected to cost a similar amount to the two aforementioned attackers.
However, Milan may have to move a few players on before they make any additions.
The three players who could be sacrificed in order to make way for new additions are Luka Jovic, Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze.
None of the three current Rossoneri forwards have cemented themselves as regulars in the starting line-up under Paulo Fonseca, and could potentially be allowed to leave if suitable offers come in.
Chukwueze became Milan’s most expensive signing of the last two years when he joined for around €28m from Villarreal last summer, while Okafor cost around €14m from RB Salzburg. Milan would look to recoup most of the fees that they spent if they are to sell either in the coming months.
Jovic, meanwhile, who joined Milan on a free transfer, could be allowed to leave without a transfer fee if a club steps forward and is willing to cover his wages in full.
A Spanish court has handed a one-year suspended sentence to a Real Mallorca fan for racially abusing Vinicius Junior and former Villarreal’s forward and Nigeria International, Samuel Chukwueze,
The supporter was reportedly “found guilty of two crimes against moral integrity, aggravated by the fact that he acted with racist motives”, Real Madrid said in a statement.
The abuse of Vinicius occurred during Madrid’s 1-0 La Liga defeat to Mallorca at their Son Moix stadium in February 2023, before the fan insulted Chukwueze, now at AC Milan, a fortnight later.
Madrid said the fan’s prison sentence was suspended “after the defendant apologised and showed his remorse, with a letter addressed to Vinicius, having completed an equality and anti-discrimination program.”
It is the third criminal conviction handed down in recent months for racist insults towards Real Madrid players, in particular Vinicius, who has been the victim of numerous similar instances of abuse in stadiums across the country since arriving in Spain in 2018.
In June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for racist insults directed at the Brazilian striker at their club’s stadium in May 2023.
These incidents, which provoked a wave of international outrage, have sparked debate in Spain, where cases of racism have been frequent in football stadiums for decades.
Madrid also said another supporter of Mallorca, a minor who racially abused midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, had also been banned from stadiums for a year.
”(He has) apologised and shown remorse for his conduct, and he has agreed to complete socio-educational activities in the jurisdiction of minors as proposed by prosecutors,” added Madrid.
Earlier in September, Vinicius called for Spain to be stripped of its 2030 World Cup hosting duties unless it makes progress on the issue of racism in stadiums.
On Sunday, Real Madrid visit Atletico Madrid in a derby clash at the Metropolitano stadium, where Vinicius has been the victim of racial abuse on several occasions.
Samuel Chukwueze has been tasked to extend his recent form for AC Milan to do damage against both Benin and Rwanda in 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Chukwueze posted some eye-catching displays in pre-season for Milan and former international Victor Ikpeba has told SCORENigeria the exciting winger ought to bring this form for the Super Eagles to fly past Benin and Rwanda.
Samuel Chukwueze is full of belief ahead of the new season, pledging to be a re-born player for AC Milan and expressing positive thoughts about the new head coach Paulo Fonseca. Chukwueze’s first season with Milan was up and down in truth after he became the most expensive signing of the 2024 summer transfer window, as he only really showed flashes of the player he was at Villarreal for various reasons.
Christian Pulisic’s starting spot was never in doubt after a red-hot start while the Nigerian was held back by a couple of injuries plus his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, which took him away from Stefano Pioli in January.
A month ago, the winger thus began a mission to redeem himself and he did so with the belief that the change on the bench would allow him to find more opportunities. He has admitted to feeling confidence from Fonseca, and with Pulisic playing down the middle the spot on the right is his.
Speaking exclusively with Italian tabloid La Gazzetta dello Sport, he touched on a number of topics from his background to rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, as well as of course the upcoming season.
Chukwueze says he feels at home in the ancient city of Milan, and of course the traditional club, AC Milan.
“Yes, the most important thing is to have people who trust you. Milan is a family, not a team. We do everything together. Me, Yac [Yacine Adli], Okafor, Fikayo, Ruben, Cala who is the captain and who I would always like with me. We talk about life, even about things that go wrong.”
Though, the former junior international is very close to home-Nigeria, filled with nostalgic moments with his parents-especially his mother, and siblings, Milan is home away from home.
“I remember my mother who doesn’t want me to play. In Africa everyone focuses on school and she said ‘football will never give you money’. But I was born with football inside me. So I went to play until seven in the evening, and when I came home she would ground me.
“She would take my football boots and confiscate them, so I had to hide them. The problem is that she always found them. Once she burned my boots and shirts and told me: ‘Samuel, you have to focus on your studies’. I tried, but a part of my body was turned off.
“And then my cousin’s brother told me there was a trial in town. I told him not to even come and call me. Instead he knocked at 5:30 in the morning and my mother opened the door: ‘Samuel isn’t coming from anywhere, he has school today.’ My grandmother convinced her, then she woke me up and gave me money for the transport.
“When I arrived, they told me it was already finished. Then they let me play alone, they saw the ball control and changed their minds: ‘Okay, that’s it, that’s what we were looking for’. They took me to a tournament in Portugal.”
After hitting it big in Europe, Samuel says he has been returning home periodically to give back to his people.
“I’ve been doing it for three years because I feel I have to do something for Umuahia, my city. The mentality is that, if you make it in life, you have to go back to making people happy. The tournament is for eight teams, six against six.
“I take the shirts of eight teams, this year Milan, PSG, Dortmund, Barcelona… The Milan ones are given to me by the club, the others are a bit original, a bit not, in Africa it’s not easy to find them.”
Saudi Money
Chukwueze says he would have left Milan last season when things were tough for him but he stayed back because he’s not done with Europe.
“If they had been a problem, I would have signed in Saudi Arabia. A year ago they wanted me for more than €10m net per season. My mind was set only on Milan. My agent told me: ‘Hey, look, there’s this money…’. But I didn’t: ‘I don’t want to go anywhere else’. So he gave up. If that money comes, it will come. The most important thing now is to believe in myself, I’m still young, I want to make it, I have to stay in Europe.”
With the coming of Fonseca, the Super Eagles player seems to be enjoying a new lease of life at Milan.
“Yes, the coach gives me confidence. Now I have to prove that I’m worthy of Milan. I think this is my moment. He only told me one thing: ‘Samuel, I don’t want to see last year’s Chukwueze. I want the one from Villarreal.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, no problem.’ It’s like I’ve been reborn. I’m a new player.”
What didn’t work with Pioli?
“I arrived late, at the end of July; it was a bit difficult to convince him, whoever played in my position [Pulisic] scored. We are all human, I also wanted to play, but the coaches are cautious, it’s normal. I had a good relationship with Pioli, he’s a fantastic man and a good coach but that’s football.”
He believed that the team will be stronger with him and Rafa and Pulisic as a 10.
“Ah, for me it’s perfect. Rafa is fast, Pulisic dribbles and scores, I can do a one-two. If they double Rafa, then they have to mark us.”
Chukwueze ranked teammate Rafa as among the top players in Serie A, alongside his country-mate Victor Osimhen.
“Rafa is among the other two there is my friend Osimhen, who I hope will stay in Italy. I would like to close my eyes, open them again and see Osimhen here at Milan. I always say to him: ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come?’ And he says: ‘Samuel, you know it’s difficult.”
Aside from Osimhen, he has special places in his heart for Ibrahimovic, Francesco Camarda and Morata, Yac Adli and Kaka.
“Ibrahimovic is very tough, my goodness. But he’s a good guy: he’s tough in business, always direct. He tells me: ‘Chuk, we expected you to score…’. And then, when I score: ‘Ah, finally, but you should have scored two. Next time, don’t mess around in front of goal’.
Morata is strong too. He attacks space, provides assists, works hard and knows Serie A better than me. For us wingers, he’s perfect, while Camarda, for me is special. He is young, he is strong but he has to keep working, forget the hype and push hard. He is very intelligent, if he continues to work he will become one of the best strikers in the world, believe me.
“Adli is my French brother. Yac explained to me what I should and shouldn’t do in Milan. If I have problems, I call him. Yac is unique.
“Okay, Kaka. He’s my all-time favourite but I’ve never met him. If one day he comes to San Siro, I’ll drop everything and go see him.”
As for this season, Chukwueze wants to better his record. He’s in the right frame of mind to achieve that. “I want to beat my record of six in the league.”
This emoji represents relief but also disappointment or displeasure, so many fans commented on Leao’s post, telling the Portuguese to be happy for his teammate rather than frustrated with himself.
Leao probably wanted to express relief as he’s known to be a very close friend of Chukwueze.
The Nigeria international had a slow start to life at Milan, but has been showing steady improvements over the last few weeks.
When Chukwueze scored his first Serie A goal against Verona before the March break, Leao rejoiced on social media calling the ex-Villarreal winger “brother.”
Nigeria’s poster boy at the Total Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019, Samuel Chukwueze, is confident about being crowned the best player on the continent in the foreseeable future in this frank conversation with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.
The was one of the bright spots in a relatively successful campaign with the Super Eagles at the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2019 and gifted winger Samuel Chukwueze has yet spoken about his drive for perfection as he keeps his fledging career running.
At this AFCON, he caught the eyes far and wide with his remarkable speedy dribbles and deservedly the youngest goal scorer at 20 years and 49 days with his first international goal; and the opener for Nigeria in the 2-1 defeat of South Africa in the quarter finals.
“One of the first things and the major thing that has kept me focussed is my family especially when I remember where I was coming from,” the lively but soft-spoken 20-year-old Chukwueze stated in an exclusive interview with The Nation the day after the unfortunate 2-1 loss to Algeria in the semi-final. “I don’t want to fail because I know if I fail, my family has also failed. That is one thing that has kept me focussed on my career at both the club and national team levels.”
In only his first major tournament with the Super Eagles, Chukwueze clocked an impressive 482 minutes in six matches and capped it with a Man of the Match performance in the quarter final match against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
“It’s a great feeling to be in this team and I want to thank the coach (Gernot Rohr) for the opportunity to be part of this team to the AFCON in Egypt. It was not an easy task but I have a special feeling to be among the players for the tournament,” explained Chukwueze, a FIFA U-17 World Cup winner with the Golden Eaglets class of 2015.”It is a dream come true to be among the Super Eagles to the AFCON 2019 because I used to watch them on the television and dreamed about them even last year when they were playing at the Russia 2018 World Cup.
“It is so nice to be here among them this time around playing and laughing together. I feel so great.”
Now capped eight times for the Super Eagles, Chukwueze emphatically said his first goal at the 2019 AFCON would forever be etched in his memory.”My goal against South Africa will always remain special to me because it was my first international goal and in my first major tournament with the Super Eagles. I also feel very great to be voted as the Man of the Match (against South Africa) but I remain humble because this is just the beginning for me.”
Apart from doing well with the Super Eagles at Egypt 2019, Chukwueze’s fine form for his Spanish LaLiga side was rewarded in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Awards with the Best Young Player last April and he reckoned such landmarks would keep him on the straight and narrow road to success.
“I’m so happy being declared as the Young Player of the Year and it means a lot for my career; it shows that I have greater years ahead of me if I keep working hard,” he noted.”I pray I keep my head straight and I’ll reach my goals if keep on working hard; this is just the beginning and I’m really happy about this award.”
Few months later, Chukwueze’s eye-catching performances with the Super Eagles at Egypt 2019 would certainly make him a strong contender for the elevated Young Player Award at the continental level but he is not oblivious about the impending challenges.
“Winning the NFF’s Best Young Player award was nice and it will be nice also to win the Best Youth Player at the next CAF awards but there are so many young players who are also doing well, so I can’t say I’ve done enough to win the CAF award but I will keep on working hard,” surmised Chukwueze, a great fan of two tennis legendary players in Roger Federer and Serena Williams.
Incidentally, in one of his earlier definitive interviews with this writer, Chukwueze had enthused about the prospect of hitting global acclaim like his mentors, adding that work and prayer are some of his success tips.
“I love playing footballs as well as cracking jokes; and catching fun with my friends,” noted Chukwueze who was blooded at Diamond Football Academy in Umuahia, Abia State.” There are other things I like too; I like playing and watching lawn tennis.
“I like Roger Federer and Serena Williams because they are very talented and they are my two favourite tennis players; but I want to be as famous as Serena Williams while playing football.
“I don’t like losing; losing a match can make me cry. I want to be a winner and I think I have the opportunity of learning new things by going to Europe.”
After his widely reported transfer along with Kelechi Nwakali was scuppered, Chukwueze, a great mentee of retired Dutch winger, Arjen Robben, has become a household name following some sensational performances with Villarreal since he made his league debut for the Yellow Submarines on 5th November 2018, playing a 90-minute full play in a 1–1 home draw against Levante.
The first born with two other siblings, Chukwueze, according to Spanish influential tabloid, is one of the players in Europe’s top five leagues who have progressed the most in recent time with a market value of about 2.5 million Euros at the start of the 2018/19 season to over seven million Euros on current form. Yet, Villarreal has tied the player down with a release clause of about 40 million Euros – meaning he can only be prised away in a mouth-watering fee. “I’m still with Villarreal. I’m enjoying my time there because I have the opportunity of playing regularly. Maybe I can move to another club in the nearest future but it has to be where I can play regularly. For now, I have no reason to leave Villarreal; and I’m leaving everything in the hands of God.
“My dream as a player is to win major competitions at both the club and national team levels. Personally, it is my dream to be Africa’s best player one day and I know I can realise the dream if I keep working hard. I’m still young and I know I can achieve my dreams.”
Along with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali, Orji Okonkwo, Chukwueze is proudly a member of Nigeria’s Generationext and he admitted the future of the Super Eagles is truly bright.
“I think the future of the Super Eagles is very bright and we can go far in the next FIFA World Cup in 2022 because we have a lot of young and talented players in the team,” he reiterated.”We have quality players like Victor Osimhen, Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Nwakali and several others, and I believe we can go far if we keep working.
“For instance, my roommate here at the AFCON 2019, Victor Osimhen, is a fantastic guy and he has really helped me both on and outside the field even when he was not playing. He can be a little crazy but he’s such a fantastic guy; and really boosted my confidence at this AFCON.
“Victor and I have really come a long way from our days in the Golden Eaglets. Though he never played a game at this AFCON while we got to the semi-finals, he was not discouraged (Osimhen finally made his AFCON debut in the third place win against Tunisia when he came on as a second half substitute for injured Odion Ighalo).
“He’s one player I have so much respect for because he can convert even half chances. I think he has a lot to offer the Super Eagles in the future and I kept encouraging him to be ready anytime he’s given the opportunity by the coach,” noted Chukwueze.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria got through to the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, after beating South Africa 2-1 at the Cairo international Stadium.
A certain Samuel Chukwueze got his name on the score sheet alongside William Troost-Ekong. That goal was Chukwueze’s first international goal for Nigeria and it also made him the youngest player so far to have scored in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking after the match in Cairo, Chukwueze, who replaced Moses Simon, in starting the match, said the night was a dream come through for him.
According to him: “I feel so happy to be named as man-of-the-match because it has not been easy for me and the team. I have been working so hard.
“This is my first international outing with the Super Eagles as well as my first senior goal. It is a dream comes true for me. This makes me feel so happy and don’t know how to express it.”
Fans of the Super Eagles have since been calling for the head of Coach Gernot Rohr, for failing to play Chukwueze since the start of the competition especially considering the dismal 2-0 loss to Madagascar during the group stages.
This is because the 20-year- old thrilled Nigerians with amazing displays against the Bafana Bafana, which he toppled with a goal. He is always compared to Arjen Robben because of his tremendous skills.
It is hard to forget his dazzling show against FC Barcelona in Aprin 2019 where he scored and helped Villarreal come from a 2-0 deficit, to a stunning 4-4 draw against the Catalans.
But who really is Samuel Chukwueze?
Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze was born in Umuahia Abia state on 22nd May, 1999. He was brought up in a Christian family with a younger brother and a younger sister.
He attended Government College Umuahia and Evangel Secondary School.
He started playing football when he was eight years old and he admired Nigerian legend, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha as his football idol growing up.
Chukwueze joined Villarreal CF youth setup in 2017 from local side Diamond Football Academy. He made his senior debut with the reserves on 15 April 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute for Sergio Lozano in a 1–1 Segunda División B away draw against CE Sabadell FC.
He scored his first senior goal on 20 May 2018 in a 3–1 away defeat of Bilbao Athletic and further contributed with two more goals in eleven appearances during his first season for the team, as his side missed out promotion in the play-offs.
In April 2019, he won the Nigeria Football Federation’s 2018 Young Player of the Year award.
Chukwueze first donned the Nigerian colours in 2015 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile where he scored three goals for the Golden Eaglets, en route to winning the trophy.
He waited for three years, before receiving his first call-up to the senior team in October 2018.
He made his debut for the Super Eagles of Nigeria on 20 November 2018 as a starter in a 0–0 friendly draw against Uganda and has gotten his first goal for the Super Eagles against South Africa in AFCON 2019.
It remains to be seen the exploits the wonder kid has in his sleeves, as Nigeria and the world at large keep their eyes on him
Nigeria became the second team (after Senegal) to reach 2019 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal after defeating South Africa 2-1 at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday night.
Samuel Chukwueze opened the deadlock after 27 minutes. VAR was used to confirm South Africa’s equalizer scored by Bongani Zungu after 74 minutes, but William Troost Ekong scored one minute from time to send the Super Eagles for the semifinal for the first time since they were crowned champions in 2013.
South Africa will leave Egypt with heads high after reaching the last eight despite playing in the group of death, and then eliminating hosts and favorites Egypt from the Round of 16.
Wilfried N’didi gave Bafana Bafana an idea of what to expect when he had the first shot after 6 minutes. And despite seeing South Africa with more possession, Nigeria had the lion share of chances.
Chukwueze broke the deadlock after 27 minutes after receiving the ball from Alex Iwobi inside the vital area. His initial shot was deflected from defense but he managed to collect the ball again and score past Ronwen Williams between South Africa’s posts.
South Africa tried to equalize but couldn’t pose real threats to Nigeria’s defense and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
After the break Nigeria were about to double their lead. Peter Etebo sent a scorcher from a free kick but Williams hand and the crossbar stopped him after 51 minutes.
And after 73 minutes VAR interfered to give South Africa the equalizer. From a free kick Bongani Zungu sent a header that wronged Akpeyi. The goal was initially ruled offside but VAR proved the ball came from a Nigerian defender back to let the goal stand.
Iwobi tried to restore Nigeria’s lead but his shot missed the target after 80 minutes.
And when it seemed the game is going to extra time, Williams made a fatal mistake when he missed a corner kick to leave William Troost Ekong to score in the empty net wending the Super Eagles to the semifinal.
The Super Eagles will now wait to see their opponents from Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire who lock horns in Suez on Thursday.
Super Eagles Winger Samuel Chukwueze says he is not distracted by interest shown by some clubs for his services, insisting his focus is on doing well at the Nations cup in Egypt on one hand and playing well for his La Liga side Villarreal on the other.
The 20-year-old who emerged as one of La Liga’s brightest young talents during the 2018/19 campaign, said though it is natural to attract media attention if one is doing well in the round leather game, it is important not to allow such attention become a distraction.
He expressed satisfaction with his club performance so far revealing that breaking into the regular squad of villareal did not come on a platter.
“It is just like a dream for me to break into the first team of Villarreal this season.
“I am so grateful to God and the club. I was so happy about my first goal.
“I was very happy and have scored more goals since that time. I felt good scoring against Barcelona too. I thank God for everything.” he said in a chat with Tribalfootball
Villarreal, who paid only 500,000 euros for Chukwueze a season ago, are reportedly holding out for 63 million euros for any club that wants to sign the left-footed winger.
Chukwueze who ended the season with 10 goals and 4 assists across all competitions had impressive runs against heavy weight clubs including Real Madrid and Barcelona in the course of the season.
Among clubs hoping to ultimately land the Nigeria U-17 ace include Premier league Champions Manchester City and Champions league winners Liverpool. An impressive run at the Nations cup is sure to further raise the profile of the winger who made his debut for the Super Eagles on 20 November 2018 as a starter in a 0–0 friendly draw against Uganda at the Stephen keshi Stadium Asaba.
