Ace Italian journalist Bruno Longhi has lashed out at Nigeria international winger Samuel Chukwueze who has failed to live up to the huge money spent by AC Milan to sign him from Villarreal in the summer, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chukwueze was Milan’s most expensive signing in the summer transfer window but he hasn’t hit the same height that made the club price him from Villarreal for a fee in the region of over €20m, after his tally of 13 goals and 11 assists last season.
At AC Milan he has two goals and one assists in all competitions from 21 games, a poor return which has seen him lost his spot to American winger Christian Pulisic. The coach of the team Stefano Pioli explained in an interview over the weekend.
“They have the same characteristics. Pulisic scores goals, assists and works. Chukwueze must score goals, assists and work,” Pioli stated.
While defending the coach, Longhi who covers the Milan side extensively says the below expectation performance of the team has a lot to do with the new signings, who has failed to live up to expectations, and he specifically mentioned Chukwueze as a disappointment.
“Pioli has often been criticized, but – from my point of view – he has suffered betrayals from the summer transfer market, which have been widely discussed”, he told Milan News.
“Pulisic and Loftus Cheek certainly have international experience, but their performance is too inconsistent. The same goes for Reijnders: some matches are very good, others too light and dull. As for Chukuewze, he has largely disappointed all expectations”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman