AC Milan have departed for Poland ahead of their Ferragosto friendly against Manchester United — the former club of head coach Ruben Amorim. The squad list released by the club immediately drew attention, with no fewer than eight absentees, split evenly between players left out for transfer reasons and those sidelined through injury.
The Four Outside the Technical Project
The most striking decision concerns Christopher Nkunku. The French attacking midfielder was reportedly spotted at Lyon Airport in the hours before the squad departed, and according to sources, he will no longer train with the first team or feature in any matches. It is a decisive call that effectively ends his Milan chapter before it truly began. Three other players were also excluded for transfer-related reasons: Youssouf Fofana, Fikayo Tomori, and a fourth squad member considered surplus to requirements. Fofana and Tomori have long been on the departure list, and the club is pushing to finalise their sales before the transfer window closes.
Injury Absentees: Leão, Pulisic, Gabbia and Giménez All Out
On the fitness front, the picture is equally challenging. Rafael Leão is dealing with a muscle fatigue issue that has ruled him out. His availability for the Serie A opener against Torino remains uncertain and will be assessed in the coming days. Christian Pulisic, the American playmaker at the heart of Milan’s attack, and Santiago Giménez, the Mexican striker who joined in January, have both been sidelined for some time and still need more recovery work. A late addition to the absentee list is Matteo Gabbia: the Italian centre-back picked up a knock to his ankle in training on the day of departure and, as a precaution ahead of the Torino fixture, the club decided to leave him behind. A sensible call for what is ultimately a pre-season friendly.
The Good News: Mario Gila Is Back
Amid the lengthy list of absences, there is a genuinely positive update: Mario Gila has been included in the travelling squad. The Spanish central defender, formerly of Lazio, had already returned to group training at Milanello and completed his first full session with his teammates on the day of departure. How many minutes Amorim decides to give him against United remains to be seen, but his presence on the list is already an encouraging sign heading into the new season.
A Key Test for Amorim and the Group
The friendly against Manchester United — ironically the club Amorim managed before taking charge at Milan — provides a meaningful opportunity to assess the squad’s condition and the Portuguese coach’s tactical ideas. Despite the significant absences, those who take to the pitch will have every chance to stake a claim in a squad that could still change considerably over the next few weeks.
