Ruben Amorim wanted to take Hale End star to AC Milan but Arsenal blocked the move
Ethan Nwaneri is increasingly likely to leave Arsenal this summer.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed it after he was left out of the Community Shield squad entirely.
It was a clear signal from Mikel Arteta that there is simply no space for him in the first-team picture right now.
While a permanent sale has been rumoured, many fans are clamouring for them to loan him out initially instead.
But after the failed Marseille loan, they won’t want to just loan him out to anybody — it has to be the right move.
According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Arsenal aren’t under significant financial pressure to sell this summer.
The club still have considerable spending capacity under both Premier League and UEFA rules.
So while selling Nwaneri would be useful as far as navigating PSR goes, it’s not something they have to do this summer.
What they do need is to find the right environment for Nwaneri’s development.
Many clubs are said to have enquired, but one option has now been ruled out.
Arsenal reject AC Milan’s loan approach for Ethan Nwaneri
According to Italian journalist Carlo Pellegatti, speaking on his YouTube channel, AC Milan made a second attempt to sign Nwaneri on loan. Arsenal turned them down.
“Arsenal don’t believe in the Milan project,” Pellegatti said. “They want to send this player out on loan because they have a lot of faith in him and want to get him back.
“So today I’ve also received a ‘no’ from Milan. It’s no longer the time for Nwaneri.”
If true, Arsenal still have faith in Nwaneri and want him back. But they don’t trust Milan with his development.
And given what’s happening at the San Siro right now, that’s a reasonable stance.
Ruben Amorim arrived at Milan this summer carrying significant baggage from his troubled Manchester United tenure.
His system — the 3-4-3 that worked so well at Sporting — consistently failed to translate at Old Trafford, leaving players confused, underutilised and frequently worse off for the experience.
Several United players visibly regressed under his management, most notably Kobbie Mainoo.
Nwaneri’s last loan at Marseille was already a difficult experience following Roberto De Zerbi’s departure.
Sending him into another uncertain managerial environment, under a coach still finding his feet at a new club, would be exactly the wrong move for a 19-year-old who needs consistent minutes and a clear role.
Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig remain an option, either of which would provide far more stable environments than Milan under Amorim.
