Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze may have given new AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim something serious to think about after producing an impressive performance in the club’s pre-season opener against Celtic.
With his future at the San Siro still surrounded by uncertainty, Chukwueze needed a strong start to pre-season. He delivered exactly that.
The Nigerian international came off the bench in the second half with AC Milan trailing Celtic 2-0 and immediately changed the direction of the game. By the final whistle, the Rossoneri had fought back to secure a 2-2 draw, with Chukwueze playing a key role in the comeback.
For a player whose AC Milan future has been the subject of transfer speculation, it was arguably the perfect response.
Chukwueze was given just 45 minutes on the pitch, but the Super Eagles star made every moment count.
His biggest contribution came when he produced a moment of individual quality to help AC Milan get back into the game. The winger beat his marker before delivering an excellent outside-of-the-foot cross into the box, allowing Francesco Camarda to score Milan’s equaliser.
It was the type of attacking moment that explains why Milan invested heavily in Chukwueze when they signed him from Villarreal, the assist was not the only impressive part of his performance.
According to the match statistics reported by Pulse Sports, Chukwueze created five chances, the most of any player on the pitch. He also recorded six touches inside the opposition penalty area and completed four dribbles.
His performance earned him the Player of the Match award, in just 45 minutes, the Nigerian winger had made his presence impossible to ignore.
Chukwueze’s performance could not have come at a better time, the 27-year-old returned to AC Milan following a loan spell at Fulham, where he registered three goals and four assists in 23 appearances during the 2025/26 season.
Fulham had the option to make his move permanent but ultimately decided against completing the transfer, leaving Chukwueze back in Milan and facing questions over his next move.
There had also been speculation linking the Super Eagles star with clubs outside Italy.
But the arrival of Ruben Amorim could now change the situation, the Portuguese coach has already indicated that Chukwueze remains part of his plans and has highlighted the Nigerian’s ability to take on defenders in one-on-one situations.
That is an important quality for Amorim, who wants his attacking players to be direct, brave and capable of creating openings when faced with compact defensive lines.
Chukwueze’s performance against Celtic showed exactly what he can offer, the Nigerian winger is capable of stretching defences, beating his man and creating something from nothing. Those qualities could make him a valuable option for Amorim as he begins to shape his AC Milan team.
As impressive as the performance was, Chukwueze knows one good pre-season game will not automatically secure his place in Amorim’s starting XI.
The Nigerian still has plenty to prove, the next phase of AC Milan’s pre-season campaign will provide an even bigger test, with the club set to face strong opposition including Inter Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United during their summer preparations.
Those matches will give Chukwueze the perfect opportunity to show that his display against Celtic was not simply a one-off.
For the Super Eagles star, these games could be more important than ordinary pre-season fixtures, they are auditions.
Chukwueze needs to convince Amorim that he can produce consistently and become a reliable part of the team’s attacking structure. His ability to perform against high-quality opposition could go a long way towards deciding whether he stays at AC Milan or returns to the transfer market.
There is a strong argument that Ruben Amorim should give Chukwueze more time before making any decision about his future, the Nigerian possesses something that cannot easily be coached the ability to beat a defender one-on-one.
In modern football, that quality is extremely valuable, when a team faces a deep defensive block, a player who can receive the ball, attack his marker and create an opening can completely change the game.
That is where Chukwueze can make a difference, his performance against Celtic also demonstrated his willingness to attack the opposition box. His six touches in the penalty area showed that he was not simply staying wide and waiting for the ball. He was actively looking to get into dangerous positions.
If Amorim can improve Chukwueze’s consistency and tactical discipline while keeping his natural attacking instincts intact, AC Milan could have a very useful player on their hands, the challenge now is for the Nigerian to prove that he can do it regularly.
For Chukwueze, the 2026/27 season could be one of the most important campaigns of his career, at 27, he is entering the prime years of his football career. The Nigerian winger has already shown flashes of outstanding quality, particularly during his time at Villarreal, but consistency has sometimes been the missing piece.
His next challenge is to turn those flashes into a sustained run of performances, that starts with pre-season.
The good news for Chukwueze is that he appears to have the attention of his new manager. Amorim’s willingness to keep him in the squad means the door is open.
Now, it is up to the Super Eagles star to walk through it, the performance against Celtic was an encouraging first step. One assist, five chances created, four completed dribbles and a Player of the Match award is certainly a strong way to begin.
But the real test is still coming, with Inter Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United waiting, Chukwueze has a chance to turn a promising pre-season cameo into something much bigger.
If he continues to perform at this level, Ruben Amorim may soon have a difficult decision to make, and for AC Milan, that could be a very good problem to have, for Samuel Chukwueze, meanwhile, the message is simple: the fight for his AC Milan future is far from over.
