Allegri stays cautious and revamping Leon Kunku s coexistence issue becomes key

The news of Nkunku joining AC Milan was officially announced, and finally completed a major reinforcement on the offensive end. But while being happy, a key question remains unresolved: How should Allegri activate this frontcourt all-rounder?

This summer, it is no longer a secret that Allegri's desire for a "fulcrum center". However, the Milan management not only failed to meet his core demands, but instead carried out a drastic cleanup of the front line without introducing a substitute, and soon received negative feedback. After Leo was absent due to injury, Jimenez was the only one left on the team's forward line. At the critical moment when the league opened the league behind Cremonese at home, Allegri said to the assistant coach on the sidelines, "Do we still have a striker?", expressing the embarrassment that no one on the front line is available. Although the team narrowly beat Lecce in the second round, in order to maintain counterattack firepower, Allegri was able to send in the last moment only Barentien, a young player who joined 7 days ago and was originally reserved for the future team. Milan's offensive weakness has reached the critical point where changes must be made.

At that time, Nkunku had arrived in Milan, but the official announcement had not been announced yet. When asked about this, Allegri's response was quite meaningful: he affirmed Nkunku's top quality, but admitted that "he has not yet thought about how to use him correctly." At the same time, he maintained enough respect for Jimenez, saying that he was "a major member of the team. He performed very well last night, but he was just a goal. He has the ability to score." This gentle statement is in sharp contrast to the previously straightforward sporting director Tare. Perhaps it is because Milan has hit a wall in the transfer market many times this summer, and Ah Jiong is particularly cautious in acting like this. Nowadays, rumors of the exchange between Jimenez and Dorfbik are buzzing, but there is no definite answer to whether this deal can be successful.

Looking at the data alone, Dovbik scored 17 goals in 32 league appearances last season, and his performance was not bad. But his "failure to adapt to the local environment" after entering Serie A is obvious. Rome's new coach Gasperini does not favor such centers with sufficient physique but lacks high-level counterattack ability, and it can be said that he doesn't know how to use it. Roma may not have much recognition of Jimenez, and Dovpick may not be the ideal fulcrum center in Allegri's heart. The contact between the two teams is more like a mentality of moving the tree and moving the dead, trying to find a breakthrough for their respective difficulties. Given that the deal has not been finalized, Allegri is unwilling to offend the players in the team too early, and there is always room for his words.

Compared to Dovbik's uncertainty, Nkunku's use is more affecting the hearts of Milan fans, which is closely linked to Leo's position arrangement. As early as the warm-up stage, Allegri had given up the previously preset 4-3-3 formation and pushed Leo to the front line. Although Nkunku is known as a versatile in the frontcourt, his past performance has proved that he is still more comfortable in the winger or pseudo-Nine position. For Milan, the optimal solution is undoubtedly to let Leo start at the same time as Nkunku, which also means Leo needs to assume the 9th position more frequently.

Once upon a time, Leo was widely regarded as a "hard to transform" player. Even though he has a standard size 9 figure, the former coaches' attempts have repeatedly hit a wall. Both Pioli and Fonseca wanted to push him to the center position: facing Pioli, who is close, Leo can respond gently, "more used to facing the goal head-on rather than catching the ball behind his back"; and for Fonseca, who is in his relationship with him, he simply said that he "don't want to play center."

Leo's personality is a bit childish and is a typical "shun donkey". As long as the coach can build trust and communicate well with him, he is not unable to accept position adjustments. Allegri knows this well: since the day he returns to Milan, he has been sending the signal that "Leo is the absolute core of the team", and this recognition is not inconsistent with the transformation position. In Allegri's plan, Leo's No. 9 position is by no means a standing center in the traditional sense, but an absolute core with absolute freedom on the offensive end and being able to connect the entire team. Regardless of whether Milan will introduce new players in the future, the premise of "Leo as the core" will not be shaken. Although Nkunku's joining will certainly occupy a starting position, as long as the tactical framework around Leo remains unchanged, the two have the opportunity to form a "1+1>2" chemical reaction.

Nkunku's arrival has injected new possibilities into the Milan front line, but Allegri's tactical puzzle has not yet been fully formed. Can Leo's position transformation continue to work? How can Enkunku quickly integrate into the system? Will Dorfbik's trade affect the front line? These questions may not be answered until the league is advanced and the players are fully adapted to the new roles before the final answer can be found. For Milan, this season full of variables is both a challenge and an opportunity to reshape its competitiveness.