Milan head into the decisive phase of the 2025–26 season with an attacking unit that is finally rich in options, but also full of significant question marks.
Christopher Nkunku’s brace marked an emotional turning point after months of struggles, yet it comes at a time of profound change. The signing of Niclas Füllkrug and the wait for Rafael Leão’s full recovery are reshaping the Rossoneri’s attacking identity.
Today, the issue is no longer a lack of alternatives, but how to manage the pecking order.
Nkunku breaks his drought, but the timing is uncertain
Nkunku’s moment is emblematic. The two goals he scored recently carry weight beyond the result itself: they tell the story of a player who has rediscovered confidence and presence in the box—qualities that had been missing in the first half of the season. However, this breakthrough arrives just as Milan decide to change direction.
Nkunku has never been a pure No. 9, nor a traditional winger. He is a hybrid attacker, thriving on space, combinations and freedom of movement. In a Milan side now seeking greater concreteness, this profile risks becoming less central. The paradox is clear: just when he starts scoring, the context around him seems to be tightening.
Füllkrug and the need for a true No. 9
The Füllkrug deal was born out of a clear necessity. Milan needed a reliable attacking reference point, someone who could give weight in the box and unlock tight matches. The German striker brings physicality, experience and a more direct, straightforward interpretation of the role.
With Füllkrug on the pitch, Milan’s attack becomes more vertical and pragmatic, as already seen against Cagliari. He is a player who doesn’t need many chances to make an impact and who facilitates the work of his teammates, especially those attacking from wide areas. For this reason, in the hierarchy, he inevitably starts ahead.
Leão remains the fulcrum of Milan’s attack
Any discussion about Milan’s attack cannot ignore Rafael Leão. Even in an up-and-down season, his specific gravity remains enormous. When Leão is missing, Milan lose depth, unpredictability and the ability to break games open.
His gradual return is bound to change everything. With Leão at full throttle, opposing defenses are forced to drop deeper and double up, opening spaces that a striker like Füllkrug can exploit to the fullest. Nkunku, by contrast, risks being squeezed between roles that are not entirely his own.
What attacking scenarios for Milan between now and the end of the season
The most likely scenario sees Milan building their attack around clear certainties: Leão as the key man, Füllkrug as the focal point. In this context, Nkunku becomes an important but secondary option. He can be decisive off the bench, useful for changing the tempo or adding quality in the final third, but he is unlikely to be the system’s cornerstone.
There are alternative solutions that could enhance his value, such as a more central role behind the striker, but these are riskier and less sustainable options—especially in a league like Serie A, where balance remains crucial.
The real issue: abundance or a management risk?
Milan now face a new situation: having several high-level attackers means making tough choices. Füllkrug represents the present and the urgency of results, Leão is the technical leader, Nkunku is the question mark that could turn into either an opportunity or a problem.
His breakthrough is a positive sign, but on its own it is not enough to change the club’s strategy. The second half of the season will determine whether those goals mark the beginning of real continuity or remain an isolated episode. Either way, it is a moment of growth for Milan: no longer forced to chase solutions, but called upon to choose the best ones.
And it is precisely through these choices that the Rossoneri’s ambitions for 2025–26 will be defined.
