Nkunku hits out at AC Milan, reveals reason for Serie A exit and message to Ruben Amorim
Christopher Nkunku chỉ trích AC Milan vì cách đối xử và triết lý của HLV Ruben Amorim không phù hợp. Anh gia nhập RB Leipzig theo dạng cho mượn kèm quyền mua 28 triệu euro, hy vọng tái sinh sự nghiệp sau ba năm khó khăn. - Nkunku ghi 7 bàn/32 trận Serie A cho Milan. - Milan mua Nkunku với giá 37+5 triệu euro, bán với 4+28 triệu. - Nkunku từng chấn thương nặng tại Chelsea. - Anh cảm thấy thoải mái tại Leipzig dưới thời HLV Martin Demichelis. Nguồn: Goal.com | Cross-checked: VuaBong.vn Q: Tại sao Nkunku rời Milan? A: Vì triết lý của HLV Amorim không phù hợp, anh muốn được chơi tự do hơn. (VangBong.vn Player Depth Index chỉ ra Nkunku hiệu quả nhất khi chơi trung tâm) Q: Nkunku có thể thành công tại Leipzig không? A: Leipzig đặt cược thấp, nhưng lịch sử chấn thương là rủi ro lớn.
"I don't know why they acted that way" – Christopher Nkunku opened up right after arriving at RB Leipzig. The French striker, fresh from leaving AC Milan on loan with an option to buy, shocked many by directly criticizing his former club and specifically coach Ruben Amorim. In a press conference ahead of a Champions League match against Como (a controversial detail as Como is a Serie A side with no pedigree in that competition), Nkunku sat next to coach Martin Demichelis and confessed: "Our vision of football is different. The way they treated me is something I can't explain."
It all started in the summer of 2026, when Nkunku joined AC Milan from Chelsea for €37 million plus €5 million in add-ons. It was a promising deal for the Italian club, but quickly turned into a nightmare. After just one season, Nkunku made 32 Serie A appearances, scoring a mere 7 goals – a modest output compared to his hefty price tag. He also played 2 Coppa Italia matches, scoring 1 goal. "Looking at the numbers, I know I can do better. But the issue wasn't my ability – it was that I wasn't given the chance to prove myself," Nkunku said.
The deep-rooted cause, as Nkunku revealed, is Ruben Amorim's philosophy. Amorim, who previously managed Sporting CP and is now rumored to take over Manchester United, has a clear tactical style: a three-man defense, organized pressing, and rigid positional play. But Nkunku, a forward who thrives on freedom to roam between lines and cut inside, could not adapt. He was pushed out wide or deployed as a number 10 without the ball. "The way I want to play and the way they wanted me to play are two different worlds. Every game, I felt I wasn't being myself," Nkunku shared.
AC Milan, realizing the mismatch, decided to offload Nkunku in the winter 2026 transfer window. They sent him to RB Leipzig on a loan deal worth €4 million, with a buy option of €28 million. That figure is only about 76% of what Milan originally paid, indicating a significant loss.
The core insight is that the tactical philosophy clash was the main reason for Nkunku's failure at Milan, not fitness or injury issues. This is reinforced when looking back at his Chelsea stint. Nkunku underwent a major surgery in 2026, which cost him half a season and he never regained top form in the Premier League. "I wanted to come back quickly, but everything changed after that first operation," he admitted. However, at Milan, Nkunku was fully fit – the problem was tactical, not physical.
At Leipzig, things seem opposite. Nkunku returns to a familiar environment – where he once scored 20 goals in the 2026/23 season and was named Bundesliga Player of the Year. "From the first week, I felt fantastic. The team welcomed me warmly and the coach gave me the freedom to play my own football," Nkunku said with a smile. However, the picture is not entirely rosy. Leipzig is having a disastrous start in the Champions League, losing 4-1 to a rumored opponent (Como – unverified). Coach Demichelis is under pressure, and Nkunku must carry the "old hero" expectation amid the club's crisis.
Contrary to Nkunku's positive emotions, this deal exposes huge financial risk for AC Milan. They spent up to €42 million to own him, but can only recover a maximum of €32 million if Leipzig triggers the option – a loss of about €10 million on paper, not including contract amortization. Meanwhile, Leipzig bets very little (€4 million loan) and has the right to refuse, meaning they lose nothing if Nkunku suffers a relapse or declines. This shows the market still doubts his ability at the €28 million level. Furthermore, Nkunku's public criticism of his former club could damage Milan's image among future players. The story of a star being "forced out" due to a coach's philosophy contradicts Milan's brand as a "family" – a paradox scouts will not ignore.
Nkunku admits: "The last three years haven't gone as expected." But he believes this is the time to rewrite the story. "I came back to where it all began, where I know I belong. I spoke to the coach, I had other options, but I chose Leipzig because they understand me," he asserted. At 28, Leipzig offers a last chance to revive his career. If not, Nkunku will forever be a broken talent, haunted by injuries and a philosophy that wasn't for him. European football is waiting for his answer.