Ruben Amorim hasn’t even unpacked his office at Milanello, and already he’s staring at a roster that could lose half its attacking firepower. The former Manchester United manager walked into a Serie A giant that just finished outside the Champions League places, and the cleanup is going to be messy.
Start with the midfield because that’s where the clearest goodbyes are. Luka Modric already said his farewells before heading to the World Cup with Croatia. The 40-year-old isn’t coming back. Adrien Rabiot is being chased by Massimiliano Allegri at Napoli, and Youssouf Fofana never quite settled. That’s three veterans gone or going, and the attacking group might be even more unsettled.
Rafael Leao and the Comeback Challenge
Rafael Leao’s future is the biggest domino. The Portuguese winger has been at Milan for seven years, but this season was rough. He and Allegri never clicked, and after Milan blew Champions League qualification, Leao posted something cryptic on social media that basically screamed ‘I’m out.’ Several Premier League clubs are circling.
But here’s the twist. According to Calciomercato, Amorim plans to sit down with Leao face-to-face when the winger gets back from World Cup duty. Amorim reportedly thinks he can unlock the version of Leao that made him one of Europe’s most feared forwards a couple years ago. That might be wishful thinking, but it’s a real conversation that could change everything. If Leao stays, Amorim builds the attack around him. If he goes, that’s a massive hole to fill.
The Striker Problem Nobody Solved
Milan scored 53 goals in Serie A last season. That’s the lowest among any team that finished in the top six. The center-forward spot has been a black hole since Zlatan left. Santiago Gimenez came from Feyenoord with promise and promptly flopped. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Milan tries to move him this summer to free up space and cash.
They looked at Robert Lewandowski, who’s leaving Barcelona as a free agent. But the Polish striker reportedly has a handshake deal with the Chicago Fire in MLS. Serie A isn’t happening for him. So Milan turned to Udinese’s Nicolo Zaniolo, who just made his loan move permanent. Zaniolo fits Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system conceptually, but he scored five goals in 32 league games. That’s not solving the problem. That’s rearranging deck chairs.
One wild card: Francesco Camarda is back from a loan at Lecce. The kid is talented, but asking a teenager to carry the goal-scoring load for a club like Milan is a lot.
Pulisic and Nkunku: Two Departures, Different Paths
Christian Pulisic has been a fan favorite at San Siro since leaving Chelsea in 2023. But the American hasn’t scored in Serie A since December 2025. His second half of the season was a ghost act, complete with some genuinely painful misses that cost Milan points. His contract expires next summer, so this is the last window Milan can get real money for him. Liverpool and Tottenham have both inquired. A Premier League return for the USMNT captain feels likely.
Christopher Nkunku had a disappointing first season in Italy after also leaving Chelsea. New Blues boss Xabi Alonso has reportedly asked about bringing him back to West London, though that rumor should come with a grain of salt. A move to Roma sounds more realistic, especially with Roma back in the Champions League. Either way, Nkunku probably isn’t sticking around.
What Comes Next
Milan has been linked with Sporting CP’s Francisco Trincao as a potential replacement, but they need to sell before they can buy. That’s the bind. Amorim wants to reshape the attack, but he’s walking into a transfer window that starts with a lot of exits and not a lot of guaranteed answers. The rebuild is real. It just might take longer than anyone at San Siro wants to admit.
Leave a Comment