Milan Transfer Market: Christopher Nkunku’s Dig Sparks Debate

Christopher Nkunku returns to Italy for the first time since leaving Milan, and he’s doing so as a player for Leipzig, the club where he previously played from 2019 to 2023: Como awaits him in the match scheduled for Thursday at 9 p.m., as part of the first matchday of the Champions League group stage. The lead-up to the match, however, has not been a peaceful one for the French forward: his harsh criticism of the Rossoneri at a press conference has, in fact, reopened a wound that clearly has not yet healed.

“I didn’t have any physical problems at Milan, but clearly we have different ways of interpreting soccer,” said Nkunku. “That’s also why, as soon as I had the opportunity to return to Leipzig, I took it. “The decision Milan made regarding me certainly deserves respect, but honestly, I didn’t understand why the club acted that way. I was a bit surprised… anyway, I wish them a good season, too.”

Born in 1997 in Lagny-sur-Marne to a family of Congolese origin, Christopher Nkunku played for Milan during the 2025–2026 season, having been acquired from Chelsea for 37 million euros. With the Rossoneri, he played a total of 35 matches—32 of them in league play—scoring 8 goals (7 in Serie A and one in the Coppa Italia).

This season, Nkunku participated in preseason training with the Rossoneri, also taking part in friendlies against Inter in Perth and Chelsea in Hong Kong. Coach Ruben Amorim, however, “rejected” him, placing him on the list of players set to leave: Leipzig took advantage of the opportunity to bring him back to the Bundesliga, where between 2019 and 2023 Nkunku had scored 47 goals, adding another 23 in the same jersey across the German Cup, German Super Cup, Champions League, and Europa League.