GdS: From Milan’s pursuit to scoring against them - the background on Lukebakio

There was a time when Dodi Lukebakio could have been scoring goals for AC Milan rather than against them, as he did on Wednesday.

La Gazzetta dello Sport rewind the clock to August 2025, when Milan were also negotiating for Adrien Rabiot with Marseille. Lukebakio’s name had also ended up on the list of targets, and the old management – led by Igli Tare – conducted an enquiry.

Not long after the failed arrival of Conrad Harder, Milan were looking for a replacement for Samuel Chukwueze, who was packing his bags for Fulham. Among the names being considered was the Belgian winger, coming off an 11-goal season in Spain with Sevilla.

Quick, versatile, left-footed, and adept at shooting: these are characteristics that Davide Bartesaghi had the opportunity to get to know very well two nights ago. Perhaps a bit too well. In the end, however, nothing came of it.

Lukebakio left Spain and in early September signed for Benfica for around €25m, penning a five-year contract with a release clause set at €50m. Milan, however, took a different path.

A natural left-footer, he loves to start wide and then cut inside, looking for a cross or a shot towards the far post. This is precisely the dynamic that led to his opening goal on Wednesday night at San Siro.

At 28 he has already played in Belgium, England, Germany, Spain and now Portugal. He’s made 33 appearances for the Belgian national team, scoring six goals.

He has already netted double figures in a single season for Hertha Berlin, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Sevilla. Could he do it again with Benfica?

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