AC Milan Stuns Man United in Thrilling Friendly as Chukwueze Shines Amidst Defeat

AC Milan secured an impressive 4-2 victory over Manchester United in a high-profile preseason friendly, marking a significant first win for new head coach Ruben Amorim against his former club. The match, which saw Milan come from behind twice, was largely inspired by the exceptional performance of Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze, whose future at the club had been a subject of much speculation throughout the summer.

Chukwueze, 27, delivered one of his most impactful displays in a Milan shirt, playing a pivotal role in the victory with a goal and two assists. His contributions were crucial in overturning Manchester United's leads. He initially brought Milan level in the first half, capitalizing on defensive errors from Manchester United after a pass from summer signing Goncalo Ramos, canceling out Harry Maguire’s early header. After Patrick Dorgu restored United's lead in the second half, Chukwueze was again central to Milan’s equalizer. His shot, seemingly heading wide, was quickly tucked home by Alhadjo Cisse, restoring parity. The Nigerian international then provided a quality cross for Goncalo Ramos to head home, putting Milan ahead, before Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealed the 4-2 win.

Beyond his direct goal contributions, Chukwueze's performance highlighted his renewed confidence and attacking prowess. He constantly looked to push forward, outmaneuvering Luke Shaw on several occasions, and was alert to United's defensive mistakes. His composed cross for Ramos was singled out as a particularly impressive moment, serving as a timely reminder of his quality and giving Amorim much to consider for the upcoming season.

An interesting aspect of Chukwueze's display was his deployment in a wing-back role, a position he has been adapting to since Amorim’s arrival, who favors a 3-4-2-1 system. While traditionally a winger, Chukwueze showed remarkable adaptability, balancing defensive responsibilities with his natural attacking duties. He created three chances, more than any other player on the pitch, recorded six touches in the opposition box, and contributed defensively with five recoveries, being dribbled past only once. This suggests a successful transition into the demanding role.

Chukwueze's future at Milan had been uncertain, with interest from clubs like Trabzonspor and potential returns to La Liga. However, his performance against Manchester United provided a strong indication of his standing with Coach Amorim. He was the only outfield player to complete the full 90 minutes, demonstrating his stamina and physicality, and earned the highest rating on the pitch (9.1 according to FotMob). This strong showing, directly contributing to three of Milan's four goals, significantly strengthens his case to remain at San Siro and potentially feature prominently in Amorim's starting lineup for the 2026-27 Serie A opener against Torino.

From Manchester United's perspective, manager Michael Carrick expressed disappointment with the 4-2 defeat, stating there were "no excuses" for his side's performance. Despite having led twice, Carrick acknowledged that his team "didn't play well today" but noted positives from the overall preseason. The match also saw the return of Marcus Rashford, who appeared in United colors for the first time since December 2024 after his loan spell at Barcelona, coming on for the final hour. Carrick emphasized that many players would benefit from the minutes played and that decisions regarding the strong squad would need to be made ahead of their Premier League campaign opener against newly-promoted Hull on August 22.