Christopher Nkunku is not close to joining Barcelona, despite the French forward’s name being circulated as a potential option to bolster the Catalan club’s attack following Ferran Torres’ departure to Paris Saint-Germain.
French reports had suggested that Barcelona contacted the player’s entourage; however, recent reports deny any real negotiations or genuine interest from the Catalan club. They also confirm that Nkunku was never on the list of targets being pursued by the sporting management, led by Deco.
This coincides with AC Milan’s decision to inform Nkunku that he is not part of manager Rúben Amorim’s project for the new season, alongside Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana, and David Odogu. The players have been training individually and were excluded from the friendly match against Manchester United.
Nkunku left the city of Milan after being informed of the decision, while the Rossoneri management is working to find him a new destination before the transfer window closes. They have set a price tag of around €30 million to sanction his departure, attempting to recoup as much of his initial transfer fee as possible.
Manchester United and Newcastle have shown initial interest in the French international’s situation without submitting an official offer so far. He has also been linked with Roma, given manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s admiration for his abilities, alongside interest from his former clubs RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, amid ongoing negotiations with interested parties.
Milan had signed Nkunku from Chelsea in August 2025 for €37 million, plus €5 million in add-ons, with the player signing a contract running until June 2030.
The 28-year-old made 35 appearances across all competitions during his single season with Milan, scoring 8 goals and providing 3 assists. This included 7 goals and 3 assists in 32 Serie A matches, but he failed to establish himself as a permanent fixture in the starting lineup.
Nkunku began his professional career with Paris Saint-Germain, playing 78 matches and scoring 11 goals, before reaching his peak with RB Leipzig, where he scored 70 goals in 172 matches. He won the DFB-Pokal twice and was the Bundesliga top scorer in the 2022-2023 season.
The Frenchman then moved to Chelsea, but injuries limited his impact in England. He ended his spell with the Blues with 18 goals in 62 matches, winning the UEFA Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, before departing for Milan.
