GdS: Nkunku makes instant impression – how Allegri could remodel Milan to fit him in

Christopher Nkunku made his first appearance for AC Milan on Sunday night against Bologna, and the impact was instant.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, when Nkunku is involved, everything happens incredibly quickly. Before his arrival, Milan had been scouting the market for a powerful centre-forward to man the penalty area, but a different mould arrived for €37m plus €5m in add-ons.

Rather than being a natural No.9, Nkunu is more of an all-rounder with great technical ability and speed of execution. His qualities were evident from the moment he arrived at Milanello, even if his condition couldn’t have been optimal.

The Frenchman was involved in the Club World Cup with Chelsea in July, playing 86 minutes in the semi-final against Fluminense and less than a quarter of an hour in the final won against PSG. Then came a stress-free August as he resumed training with the Blues’ reserves.

The pace and intensity weren’t those of the Premier League, where Christopher hasn’t made his debut this season. Milan came along, and Massimiliano Allegri threw him into the fold during the victory over Bologna, after working at Milanello over the break.

Less than 30 seconds

Nkunku stepped foot on the pitch when the game clock read 84:29. Twenty seconds later, he was fouled on Terracciano’s clearance, after the ball had just been put back into play.

At 85:20, he was inside the penalty area to take Pulisic’s pass: a second later, he was brought down by Bologna’s Lucumi, got up, and fell back after a challenge with Freuler. Here, referee Marcenaro pointed to the spot before it was reversed, which has caused a storm in the media since.

While waiting for the referee’s error to occur, Nkunku took the ball and waited for the penalty to be taken. Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot, the top penalty takers in the Rossoneri hierarchy, offered him the chance to take it.

Waiting with the ball under his arm: this is the image the player chose to post on an Instagram story, accompanied by two self-explanatory emoticons, clearly referring to the incident: a smiley face and one with a hand over his mouth. A symbolic but effective protest.

A luxury reserve?

Nkunku is not here to be a bench option. A determined character on and off the pitch, he is another player who brings experience and personality having won 14 titles across spells in France, Germany and England.

He’s looking to make it four countries with titles after choosing the Rossoneri, and even before that, secure a permanent starting spot. A talent like this can’t be considered a luxury reserve, and Allegri is ready to modify the formation.

What does this mean? Most likely keeping the three-man defence but adding a forward in place of a midfielder. Milan could thus be redesigned with a 3-4-2-1 (or 3-4-1-2) with Nkunku as an attacking midfielder alongside Pulisic or further forward alongside center forward Leao.

Against Udinese – where Leao will remain out injured – he could start him over Santiago Gimenez, if his condition improves enough in the meantime. Given the urgency, it’s very possible.