Why Amorim believes Chukwueze can succeed as AC Milan’s new wing-back

Samuel Chukwueze is being asked to do something new at AC Milan, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles star is no longer being used only as an attacking winger. Ruben Amorim has moved him into a right wing-back role in his 3-4-2-1 system.

It is a major change for a player whose game has been built around speed, dribbling and one-on-one attacks. Yet Amorim does not see Chukwueze’s lack of experience as a reason to drop the idea.

Instead, the Milan coach believes the Nigerian has the mentality and character needed to learn the defensive side of the position.

“It depends on the mentality of the player,” Amorim said at his press conference on Saturday, via SempreMilan.

“Sometimes people just look at one player because he’s really good offensively and they think he cannot defend.”

Amorim’s point is simple. A player does not need to be a natural defender to become useful in a defensive role. The coach believes the attitude of the player can be just as important as his past experience.

“Defending is about spirit and character, which Chukwueze has,” Amorim said. “He’s improving, of course he’s not the typical defender, but we think he suits our game. He can really help us control the ball and I think he defended much better against Man Utd.”

Chukwueze ready for new Milan challenge

Chukwueze’s recent performance against Manchester United gives Amorim a strong reason to keep trying the experiment.

Milan used a 3-4-2-1 formation in the final pre-season friendly in Wrocław, Poland, on August 15. Chukwueze started at right wing-back as Milan beat United 4-2.

United scored after only two minutes through Harry Maguire. Chukwueze then helped Milan recover. The Nigeria international scored Milan’s equaliser in the 37th minute after Jashari won the ball high up the pitch and Gonçalo Ramos supplied the final pass. Chukwueze later turned provider.

In the 57th minute, he supplied the pass for Alphadjo Cissé to make it 2-2. Eleven minutes later, Chukwueze delivered again, this time crossing for Ramos to head Milan in front. Loftus-Cheek added the fourth goal in the 71st minute.

AC Milan’s official report credited Chukwueze with the goal and both assists in the 4-2 victory. He also started the match in the wing-back position, confirming the role Amorim wants him to learn.

The performance matters because the wing-back role demands more than attacking quality. Chukwueze must track runners, recover his position, help the defence and still provide an outlet when Milan have the ball. That is where Amorim’s comments about mentality become important.

The Super Eagles star spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Fulham, where he made 25 appearances, netted three goals and added four assists. At Fulham, Chukwueze showed he could be relied on to be a fast, left-footed winger who mainly plays on the right and is strong in one-on-one situations.

Those qualities do not disappear because he moves deeper. His pace can help him recover after an attack breaks down. His dribbling can help Milan escape pressure. His left foot can help him move the ball inside or deliver crosses from wider areas.

That is why Amorim also pointed to ball control. The coach does not need Chukwueze to suddenly become a traditional full-back. He wants a player who can defend with effort, move quickly into the right position and help Milan keep possession when they recover the ball.

The Manchester United game offered a clear example. Chukwueze was involved in all three of Milan’s first goals, but his contribution was not limited to attacking numbers. He had to operate within the structure of a back three and midfield four while still providing width on the right.

There is still a lot for Chukwueze to learn. Amorim admitted that himself by saying the Nigerian is “not the typical defender” and is still improving. That admission makes the plan more realistic. Milan are not pretending Chukwueze has suddenly become a defender. They are trying to use his existing strengths while adding new responsibilities to his game.

The next step is consistency. One strong performance against United cannot prove that the experiment will work across a full Serie A season. But Amorim has already seen enough to believe Chukwueze can make the adjustment.

The Nigerian now has a clear challenge: turn his attacking talent, work rate, mentality and ball control into a complete wing-back game. If he can do that, a position that once looked unfamiliar could become a major part of his future at San Siro.