Ruben Amorim’s Milan have taken three points from Atalanta, but the final stages of that win reopened a question that has followed Pervis Estupinan since the start of the season. The Ecuadorian came on during the last 15 minutes, lost possession in dangerous areas and struggled to bring order as Atalanta pushed Milan back. By full time, the coach’s continued faith in his left-sided player was again under scrutiny.
Amorim did not attempt to avoid the issue. He acknowledged that supporters can turn against certain players at any club, then made clear that Estupinan’s place in the squad is a decision for which he accepts responsibility. The Milan coach said he had rejected the possibility of a sale at the end of the summer window despite interest from several clubs.
Villa move was close
Aston Villa were the side closest to taking Estupinan away from Milan. Unai Emery wanted the player in Birmingham after Lucas Digne’s departure, having previously worked with him at Villarreal. Discussions were advanced and a fee in the region of €18m to €20m was under consideration.
The move did not go ahead because Amorim blocked it. Villa subsequently turned to Ruggeri, while Estupinan remained in Italy under a coach determined to draw more from him.
Much of the stronger interest had come from England, where Estupinan made his name during his Brighton spell. Amorim’s assessment is based on qualities that remain evident in the player’s profile: pace, crossing ability and a willingness to shoot from distance. In principle, those attributes should offer Milan a useful outlet on the flank.
A difficult start in Serie A
So far, however, that promise has not translated consistently into Serie A performances. Estupinan has started five of Milan’s first seven league matches, yet he has rarely looked like a decisive presence. His displays have been marked by caution going forward, defensive shortcomings and moments in which his positioning has appeared unsettled.
The match against Lazio in Rome remains an example of the defensive concerns surrounding him. Against Atalanta, his difficult late cameo added to the sense that he has not yet found the rhythm or assurance required in a Milan shirt.
Last season, Massimiliano Allegri often preferred Bartesaghi, whose opportunities grew as Estupinan endured an uncertain period. Amorim, by contrast, has persisted with the Ecuadorian, while also beginning to examine Moreira in the same area of the pitch.
That makes Estupinan an important test of Amorim’s authority and judgement. The coach may believe he sees a player still adapting, rather than one incapable of meeting the standard. His public message after the Atalanta match was direct: Milan must support Estupinan, and the supporters must be helped to understand the player he can become.
Trust reserved for the league
Amorim’s selection choices suggest that Estupinan remains part of his league plans. In Milan’s two Europa League matches, when the coach gave opportunities to more fringe members of the squad, Estupinan was left out. That has been interpreted as an effort to keep him fresh for domestic commitments.
The trust has not always been repaid, but Amorim can point to his work with other individuals during the opening two months of the campaign. Alpha Cisse has emerged as one of the season’s surprises, while De Winter and Musah have made notable progress. Moreira is gradually earning his place, and Rabiot has become still more central to the side.
Estupinan is the exception for now. There is, nonetheless, one memory that ensures he is not viewed only through the lens of recent errors: his derby goal. For one evening, he became an unlikely hero of the city clash, joining the long list of unexpected derby scorers that includes Schelotto, Alex, Obi and De Jong.
Amorim’s principal task remains to return Milan to the Champions League. Yet his commitment to Estupinan has created a second challenge within the season: proving that a player the coach refused to sell can become a reliable contributor. The answer will not come from explanations alone. It will depend on whether Estupinan can finally make Amorim’s conviction visible on the pitch.
