AC Milan Open Talks With NFF Over Samuel Chukwueze’s AFCON Release

• AC Milan intends to extend Samuel Chukwueze’s AFCON release date
• The Serie A club have begun negotiations with the Nigeria Football Federation
• Chukwueze has been named in Nigeria’s 40-man provisional AFCON squad

Samuel Chukwueze’s arrival at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations could be delayed as Italian giant AC Milan is trying to extend the release date of the Super Eagles winger.

The 23-year-old forward is due to join Nigeria’s camp on January 2, but the Serie A club are pleading to extend his stay longer than the proposed CAF arrival date.

According to This Day, Milan has opened negotiations with the Nigeria Football Federation, asking for Chukwueze to be released on January 3 as they want the winger available for the Copa Italia second-round game.

The Super Eagles winger will be available for Milan in the Serie A game against Sassuolo on the 30th and the club wants him around when they tackle Cagliari on January 3, a day after he was supposed to join the Nigeria camp.

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Chukwueze joined AC Milan this summer from Villareal but has struggled to find his spark at the Serie A club, netting just two goals in 17 appearances for the Rossonieri.

Chukwueze gets rare praise from Milan

Meanwhile, Geoffrey Moncada, technical director of AC Milan, has lauded Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze for his incredible work rate since joining the club in the summer, Soccernet reports.

The 23-year-old attacker didn't get off to a fast start, but he appears to be finding his stride after scoring in back-to-back UEFA Champions League games for the Italian giants.

Chukwueze’s late winner against Newcastle United was just enough to seal Milan’s UEFA Europa League spot, as the Nigerian has also netted in their previous game against Borussia Dortmund on matchday 5.

UEFA stopping Chukwueze’s Villareal return

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Villareal wants to reunite with Samuel Chukwueze, but re-signing the Super Eagles forward is practically impossible for the La Liga giants due to UEFA’s restrictions.

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A loan return to former club Villarreal for Chukwueze has, however, been ruled out because of a UEFA rule that prohibits players from returning on loan to their former team before their contract expires.

The Yellow Submarine have also been struggling in the Spanish top flight and currently find themselves in 13th position on the log, and they will have to look elsewhere for a new forward with Chukwueze unreachable.