If Niclas Fullkrug shocked the West Ham United supporters in all the wrong ways, then the first impressions of him at Italian giants AC Milan have certainly been on the more positive side.
Wearing the number nine shirt made iconic by Pippo Inzaghi, George Weah and Marco van Basten, the Germany international made his Serie A debut during Friday night’s 1-0 win at Cagliari.
Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri hoped to have Fullkrug available for the first game of 2026.
And thanks to the progress made on the other side of Christmas – the Scudetto challengers agreed an initial loan deal with an option to buy clause set at just £4 million – the West Ham United flop was pretty much a Milan player as soon as the fireworks died down on New Year’s Day.
How do you PREDICT Pablo and Castellanos will get on at West Ham?
And who is coming next, do you think?
Milan director Igli Tare hails Niclas Fullkrug’s impact after West Ham United exit
Fullkrug’s cameo appearance at the Unipol Domus was Fullkrug’s first since West Ham lost at home to Liverpool at the end of November.
Nuno Espirito Santo blames a series of injuries for his ill-fated season-and-a-half spell in the English capital, restricting Fullkrug to just eleven Premier League starts and only three goals.
But as Milan’s sporting director Igli Tare explains, the 33-year-old’s fitness levels have been a welcome surprise for a side who leapfrogged rivals Inter into first place thanks to Rafael Leao’s winner in Sardinia.
“He’s a player who brings a lot of experience and physicality to the game. He has those characteristics,” Tare tells Sky Sports Italy and DAZN. “He’s surprised us all a bit. This week, he’s shown a lot of enthusiasm but, above all, a pretty good physical presence.
“He’s currently [able to play] around 30 to 40 minutes.”
Tare confirms that Milan were determined to get a deal done as soon as the window opened in order to give Fullkrug more time to get up to speed once again.
“We decided to bring him in a bit early, in agreement with West Ham, to give us the chance to integrate him into the team and make our first signing in the January transfer window,” adds the former Lazio chief.
“We made the move in time. We were missing some characteristics. After [Santiago] Gimenez’s injury, we did a good job of bringing in Fullkrug. He’ll help us with our goals.”
Massimiliano Allegri appears to have overcome his Fullkrug concerns
Italian reporter Massimo Brambati spoke to the aforementioned Allegri last month. He would later reveal to Tuttomercatoweb that the six-time Serie A-winning manager had serious reservations about Fullkrug’s recent injury record.
Clearly, the former Borussia Dortmund targetman has done enough in the eyes of the Milan bosses to dispel those concerns.
“Fullkrug really wanted to join Milan, and I thought it was right to give him the opportunity,” says Allegri. “He immediately showed his desire to succeed.”
In an honest and reflective farewell, Fullkrug acknowledged that things did not go to plan for him in claret and blue.
Todibo and Walker-Peters are BOTH injury doubts! ❌
How would you set up West Ham's defence today? And would you start Pablo?
He is therefore the latest in a long line of expensive striking disasters. A line Pablo Felipe will be desperate to break, potentially starting with Wolves in today’s 3pm kick-off.
Pablo hails Nuno Espirito Santo after arriving from Gil Vicente
West Ham confirmed the £17.4 million signing of Pablo on Friday night. A striker with ten goals from 13 appearances at Gil Vicente during the first half of the campaign will, for all intents and purposes, be tasked with thriving where Fullkrug failed.
“I am very happy to be able to do this. I thank God for it, and I will give my all for this club, leaving everything on the pitch; all my effort, all my dedication,” Pablo told the West Ham website upon his official unveiling.
“The fans really like players who fight for the badge, and I can promise that I will leave every last drop of sweat on the pitch for this club.
“Nuno is a great manager, a manager I have always looked up to, always admired greatly, always wanted to work with one day. And he has a very ambitious project. He is a great manager, and that made me want to join West Ham, this great club.”
“I am a very unselfish player, but I am technically very good. I enjoy playing, I like to pivot a lot, I am good in the air and I score goals. I know how to score goals, I know my way to goal and I am eager to score lots of goals for West Ham.”
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Lazio hitman Taty Castellanos will join Pablo in East London imminently. The Hammers will spend a further £27 million on an Argentine with an eye for the spectacular.
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