Amunike and Peseiro weigh in: Can ‘excellent’ Chukwueze reignite his spark at AC Milan?

Samuel Chukwueze’s potential remains undeniable, but his journey at AC Milan has been challenging since his high-profile move from Villarreal, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigerian football legend Emmanuel Amunike and former Super Eagles coach José Peseiro have offered insights into what the winger needs to succeed in Italy and beyond.

Chukwueze, 25, has shown glimpses of brilliance at Milan, including a brace against Sassuolo on his 50th appearance for the club and a spectacular goal for Nigeria against Rwanda last November. Yet, his overall form has been inconsistent, sparking rumours of a possible January move to the Premier League or Saudi Arabia.

Former Nigeria coach José Peseiro, who worked with Chukwueze during his tenure with the Super Eagles, remains confident in the player’s ability to grow.

Speaking to Sportitalia via Milan News, Peseiro said of Chukwueze and Milan teammate Rafael Leao:

“Two excellent players. I trained one (Cbukwueze) in the Nigerian national team, and the other (Rafael Leao) I would have loved to have at Sporting.

“Extraordinary players, with great quality and potential to grow even further. And I believe that Paulo Fonseca will help them become even better.”

Similarly, Emmanuel Amunike, who discovered Chukwueze as a youth player for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, believes Milan’s coaching staff plays a crucial role in unlocking his potential.

“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,” Amunike told SportsBoom.

However, Amunike stressed that much depends on Chukwueze himself.

“If he is doing well, it’s up to him if he is comfortable in Milan or wants to make the switch. A journey to success is not a straight line; it’s lined with ups and downs,” he explained.

Chukwueze has three goals and one assist in 20 appearances for Milan this season and five goals in 38 caps for Nigeria.