Exclusive: Samuel Chukwueze's Resurgence At Milan Begs For Time, Says Amunike

Samuel Chukwueze's recent performances for Milan have been nothing short of impressive. The Nigerian winger's brace against Sassuolo marked his 50th appearance for the Italian club, and his goal for Nigeria against Rwanda last November has sparked renewed optimism about his future.

Samuel Chukwueze's stellar performance in the past week, scoring a brace for Milan to mark his 50th appearance, has left many wondering if the Nigerian winger has finally found his footing.

With several worrisome performances, Chukwueze was a potential sale of the former Serie A winners to another obscure league either in Europe or Asia.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Amunike, the coach who first discovered Chukwueze's talent during his formative years in the U17 shared his opinion about Chukwueze’s newly found form and how it could translate to a big deal.

Amunike, during a long-minute phone conversation, told Sportsboom.com that the 25-year-old striker needs to figure out what works best for him. Chukwueze has been experiencing a goal drought since getting to Milan, and his recent surge changed the narrative that he will continue with the club after the January transfer window.

Although still uncertain, Amunike believes Chukwueze will find his footing well and soon.

Amunike's perspective

Amunike, who has been following Chukwueze's progress, believes that the player's recent success is a testament to his hard work and dedication. However, when asked about the reasons behind Chukwueze's inconsistent form with the Super Eagles, Amunike was cautious in his assessment.

"I don't know. I can't really say exactly what transpired between him and the coaches," Amunike said. "But I can also tell you that when you have a player that you are looking to achieve something with, you should also be able to look at what is best for them and how you can bring out the best in them."

Understanding player strengths

Amunike emphasised the need for coaches to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their players. Over time, Chukwueze has always been playing from the flanks, but his last goal for Nigeria came from the centre, which could beckon a switch in position for the winger.

"Looking at the national team, we have players with different abilities," he said. "You don't expect Victor Osimhen to be like Chukwueze, nor Ekong to be like Osimhen. They all have different qualities, it's just up for the coach to extract and build on those qualities for it to give him what he wants."

Chukwueze's Future at Milan

With speculation surrounding Chukwueze's future at Milan, SportsBoom.com asked Amunike if he sees the Nigerian winger establishing himself at the Italian club.

"Of course, it's possible," Amunike replied. "Football is a team, and a team prioritizes the quality they bring into the game. And yes, not everyone will start or play, the most important thing in the team is to find that positioning and balancing, so the team can strive."

The Player's decision

Amunike believes that ultimately, the decision to stay or leave Milan rests with Chukwueze. "I think if he is doing well, it's still up to him if he is comfortable in Milan or he wants to make the switch," Amunike said. 

He further added that the path to greatness doesn’t come easy as it has to come through several thick and thin. "Players are the ones that decide. We as fans always want certain players to be in the squad or in a team, but we must realize that a journey to success is not a straight line, it's lined with ups and downs."

Ultimately, Chukwueze's future will depend on his pitch performance. If he can continue to impress for Milan and Nigeria, he may become a regular starter for both club and country.