CorSport: Minimal contribution, uncertain role – why Nkunku remains a €38m mystery

As we reach the November international break, the doubts about AC Milan’s most expensive summer signing are growing in volume.

As Corriere dello Sport report this morning, Christopher Nkunku was bought by Milan in the summer for €38m plus bonuses to serve as both an alternative to Rafael Leao and as a potential option alongside him. At the moment, though, he isn’t really filling any role sufficiently.

There are stil a lot of games to buck the trend and there will be plenty of opportunities, but the Frenchman has zero goals and just one assist in the league. His only goal so far was an acrobatic finish in the 3-0 win against Lecce in the Coppa Italia round of 32.

A flop so far

There are mitigating circumstances. Nkunku arrived in Milan in the final days of the transfer window after a summer spent with his suitcases packed. He only started to get playing time in the second half of September, earning a France recall.

The issue is that he then returned from national team duty with a severely swollen big toe, forcing him to miss two games in which – considering Christian Pulisic ‘s absence and Leao’s weakened condition – he would certainly have had plenty of time to play.

Opportunities, however, have come his way. He got 45 minutes as a substitute in Bergamo, a start against Roma at San Siro, and a start against Parma. In each of these three games, however, there have been no signs of any significant changes.

Photos by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images and Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

There have been a few moments here and there, a couple of good plays against the Giallorossi and the assist for Alexis Saelemaekers’ goal on Saturday, but little else. Overall, one sees little consistency, little presence, and little ability to make an impact.

Obviously, the management expected more from him, just as Massimiliano Allegri hoped that, by giving him trust and minutes, Nkunku would become more and more familiar with the role and with his team-mates.

Instead, up to this point, the former RB Leipzig sensation continues to be a ‘mystery object’. Allegri’s words before the Lecce game in late August are still ringing, when he declared: “I still have to understand how to use him.”

Those same questions are being asked. What is Nkunku’s role? Where and how can he perform best? The answers, as always, can only be found on the pitch. Meanwhile, after two consecutive appearances from minute one, Leao and Pulisic are almost certain to start the derby.