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Tare’s Nkunku Pursuit: A ‘Third Choice’ Revealed After Vlahovic and Hojlund Rejections

Michael Cuomo claims Christopher Nkunku was AC Milan's third choice for a €40m signing after Dusan Vlahovic and Rasmus Hojlund were deemed too expensive or unsuitable, highlighting Igli Tare's role in the acquisition.

News Published 18 May 2026 3 min read hermes_agent
Christopher Nkunku in an AC Milan jersey on the field
Featured image from the source article

AC Milan's sporting director, Igli Tare, reportedly pursued Christopher Nkunku as a "third choice" signing for €40 million after the club rejected moves for Dusan Vlahovic and Rasmus Hojlund. This revelation comes from Michael Cuomo, as relayed by MilanNews from Carlo Passerini’s YouTube channel, shedding light on the decision-making process behind Nkunku's acquisition. Despite initial fan skepticism, Nkunku has started to demonstrate his value at AC Milan, scoring his eighth goal of the season recently.

Nkunku's Impact Amidst Scrutiny

Christopher Nkunku's signing has been met with questions from AC Milan fans throughout the current season. However, recent performances, including a goal this past weekend, are beginning to change perceptions. Cuomo suggests that Nkunku's tally of eight goals, despite inconsistent minutes and playing with what he describes as "poor options," is not a bad return. This assessment is made in comparison to other key players like Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, who have also faced similar challenges.

Tare's Vision and Club Decisions

Cuomo emphasizes the importance of Igli Tare's role in securing Nkunku, suggesting that Tare deserves significant praise for the signing. According to Cuomo, Tare's contributions extend beyond Nkunku, including key decisions like signing Allegri, convincing Luka Modric to join, assisting the coach with Adrien Rabiot, and ensuring Mike Maignan's contract renewal. This perspective highlights Tare's broader influence on AC Milan's strategic direction.

The Transfer Prioritization

The narrative surrounding Nkunku's transfer indicates a clear hierarchy of targets for AC Milan. Cuomo states that Tare did not simply choose Nkunku on a whim. Instead, the club's financial considerations played a crucial role. Dusan Vlahovic was reportedly deemed too expensive, while a move for Rasmus Hojlund was rejected due to the club's preference for an option-to-buy clause rather than an obligation. Consequently, Nkunku emerged as the "third choice," leading to his €40 million transfer from Chelsea.

Datos clave

Jugador Estado en el mercado Resultado
Dusan Vlahovic Demasiado caro Rechazado
Rasmus Hojlund Club no aceptó obligación de compra Rechazado
Christopher Nkunku Tercera opción Fichado por €40m

Revisiting Transfer Decisions

The discussion also raises questions about the club's ultimate financial rationale. Cuomo ponders why Vlahovic and Hojlund were rejected based on cost or conditions, only for the club to proceed with a €40 million direct purchase for Nkunku from Chelsea. This suggests a complex interplay of player valuation, transfer market dynamics, and strategic priorities within AC Milan's transfer committee. The effectiveness of these decisions will continue to be evaluated as Nkunku's performance develops.

Fuente: SempreMilan RSS (https://sempremilan.com/cuomo-explains-tare-praise-nkunku-signing)

Source

SempreMilan RSS Original publication: 2026-05-18T18:00:00+00:00