Ruben Amorim is cleaning house again, and this time it is happening at San Siro rather than Old Trafford. The Portuguese coach, now in charge of AC Milan, has reportedly told a group of six first-team players that they no longer fit into his plans, kicking off one of the most dramatic transfer stories of the closing summer window.
Here is everything you need to know about the Amorim shake-up, the players involved, and why this rebuild is happening so fast.
Why Ruben Amorim Is Cutting Players Loose
Amorim took over at AC Milan in June after his turbulent 14-month spell at Manchester United ended in a January sacking. Determined to avoid repeating those struggles, he used pre-season to run the rule over every player at Milanello, and the results were not encouraging. A goalless draw with Celtic, a stalemate against Inter, and then a chastening 3-0 defeat to Chelsea convinced Amorim that a serious overhaul was needed before Serie A kicks off.
Following that Chelsea defeat, Amorim met with owner Gerry Cardinale at Milanello to lay out exactly who does not fit his system going forward. The meeting reportedly produced a firm list of departures, giving Milan’s recruitment team a clear mandate before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
The Players On The Chopping Block
According to reports out of Italy and the Daily Mail, the core group being pushed toward the exit includes defender Fikayo Tomori, midfielder Youssouf Fofana, forward Christopher Nkunku, and young centre-back David Odogu. Winger Pervis Estupinan, striker Santiago Gimenez, and defender Filippo Terracciano round out the group, with some outlets suggesting an additional unnamed player could also be shown the door. The exact number varies slightly depending on the source, with some reports settling on six names and others stretching the list to eight, but the direction of travel is unmistakable.
The Nkunku decision has raised the most eyebrows. Signed from Chelsea for around 37 million euros just last year, the Frenchman contributed eight goals and three assists across 35 appearances, yet Amorim’s preference for a system built around two attacking midfielders has left him surplus to requirements.
Tomori’s situation is arguably the most urgent. His contract runs only through June 2027, meaning Milan risk losing him for nothing if a sale is not agreed soon, despite investing roughly 35 million euros to sign him back in 2021.
The Numbers Behind The Rebuild
Combined, Milan paid close to 98 million euros to acquire Tomori, Fofana, and Nkunku alone, and the club will be hoping to recoup a significant chunk of that outlay before the window closes. At the same time, Amorim has reportedly asked Cardinale for as many as five or six incoming signings, meaning outgoing sales are essential to funding his rebuild.
What Happens Next
With Milan set to face Amorim’s old club Manchester United in a pre-season friendly before opening their Serie A campaign against Torino, the pressure is on to finalize both sides of this squad overhaul quickly. Expect a flurry of exits in the final weeks of the window as Amorim looks to reshape Milan in his own image, the same way he once tried at Old Trafford.
This AC Milan clear-out is moving fast, and every name on that list is now one to watch closely.
