Milan face Celtic with 12 first-team absentees as Amorim names 27-man squad for preseason opener

AC Milan begin their preseason campaign this afternoon with a friendly against Celtic in Glasgow, but head coach Ruben Amorim will be working with a significantly depleted squad. The Rossoneri have 12 first-team players unavailable for the match due to injuries, delayed returns from holiday, or ongoing recovery from previous issues.

The match comes at very different stages of preparation for the two clubs. Celtic have already played three friendlies and their Scottish Premiership season starts in just over a week. For Milan, this is the first competitive warm-up of the summer, and Amorim has used the opportunity to include several academy products and fringe players in the travelling party.

Squad composition and absentees

Amorim named a 27-man squad for the trip to Scotland, which includes three goalkeepers, 10 defenders, seven midfielders, and seven forwards. The group features a number of younger players likely to get significant minutes in the friendly.

Among the notable absentees are several key summer signings and established stars. Full-back Pervis Estupiñan only returned to Milanello yesterday and has not travelled. Midfielders Yacine Adli and Ismaël Bennacer are not listed, while forward Christian Pulisic and striker Santiago Gimenez are both back at Milanello and expected to join the group on July 29th due to ongoing injury issues. Gonçalo Ramos and Rafael Leao will link up with the squad later in Perth, Australia, on July 29th as well.

A further group including Koni De Winter, Ardon Jashari, and Alexis Saelemaekers will not arrive in Perth until August 2nd. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan and midfielder Adrien Rabiot are the last to return, with their integration scheduled for August 12th at Milanello.

Injury concerns also affect the squad. Pietro Terracciano is out with a hip contusion, while Christopher Nkunku is sidelined with a muscle strain caused by a contusion. These absences mean Amorim will rely heavily on youth and less experienced players for the Celtic fixture.

Key facts

Context for the match

Celtic come into the game with sharp match fitness, having already played three friendlies this summer. Their league campaign begins shortly, meaning they will likely field a strong side. Milan, by contrast, are still in the early stages of building fitness and integrating new arrivals. The squad that travelled to Glasgow is a mix of established figures such as Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlović, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, alongside younger players like Francesco Camarda, Kevin Zeroli, and Chaka Traorè.

The match also serves as a logistical bridge. After the game, the squad will fly directly to Perth, Australia, where they will spend several days before facing Inter in the Australian derby. This friendly is therefore as much about building match rhythm and testing tactical ideas as it is about result.

Why this matters for Milan fans

For supporters, this friendly offers a first glimpse of Amorim’s ideas in a match setting and a chance to see younger players in action against a physically demanding opponent. The absence of so many key players means the match will not be a full indicator of Milan’s strength for the coming season, but it does provide early clues about squad depth and which youngsters might break into the first-team picture. The return schedule for the absentees also gives a timeline for when Amorim will have his full squad available, with the last players not expected until mid-August.

Source: SempreMilan – https://sempremilan.com/milan-12-absentees-celtic-27-man-squad