Samuel Chukwueze picked the perfect night to remind Manchester United exactly what they gave up. The Nigerian winger tore through their defence in Wroclaw, scoring once and setting up two more as AC Milan came from behind twice to beat United 4-2 in their final pre-season friendly of the summer.
A Lightning Start For United, Then The Chukwueze Show
Manchester United could not have dreamed of a better opening. Just two minutes in, Harry Maguire rose highest from a Bruno Fernandes corner to power a header past Milan’s stand-in goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani, who was deputising for the injured Mike Maignan. For a moment, it looked like Ruben Amorim’s return to Old Trafford’s old rivalry test would end in embarrassment.
Chukwueze had other plans. In the 37th minute, Goncalo Ramos produced a moment of pure vision, squaring the ball across an unguarded net, and Chukwueze needed only a simple tap-in to level the score. It was a quiet finish for what would become a night-defining performance. Milan even had a chance to go ahead before the break when Torriani saved Fernandes’ penalty, keeping the contest delicately poised at half-time.
United Fight Back, Milan Answer With Interest
Patrick Dorgu restored United’s lead early in the second half, pouncing after a defensive mistake from Milan’s back line. That is when Chukwueze truly took over the match. Six minutes later, he combined with Alphadjo Cisse to set up Milan’s equaliser, driving at United’s tiring defence and slipping a low ball through for the striker to finish from close range.
The Nigerian was not finished. In the 68th minute, Chukwueze again cut inside from the right and picked out Ramos, who guided a composed finish into the net to put Milan ahead for the first time.
Three minutes later, Ruben Loftus-Cheek added a fourth to complete the rout and put the result beyond doubt.
By full time, Chukwueze had a goal and two assists to his name, directly involved in three of Milan’s four goals. Pundits and match reports were unanimous that he was the standout performer on the pitch, repeatedly stretching United’s defence and cutting through it with ease throughout the ninety minutes.
What This Result Means For Both Clubs
For Amorim, the win carried extra significance. It came against the very club that sacked him earlier in the year, and it arrived just days before Milan open their Serie A campaign away at Torino on August 23. The performance offered his new-look Rossoneri side, playing in a 3-4-2-1 shape, genuine reasons for optimism heading into the competitive season.
For Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, the defeat is a far less welcome send-off from pre-season. Marcus Rashford made his first appearance for the club since 2024 during the match, but the overall performance suggested United still have significant work to do before they open their Premier League campaign against newly promoted Hull City.
One thing is certain: Samuel Chukwueze delivered the kind of statement performance that will have Milan fans dreaming and United fans wondering what could have been.
