Amorim's Estupinan stance shows Milan's full-back puzzle
Ruben Amorim says he personally blocked Pervis Estupinan's move to Aston Villa, defending a left-back who has split opinion among Milan supporters.
Ruben Amorim has confirmed he personally stopped Pervis Estupinan leaving AC Milan in the summer, telling reporters he turned down interest from a group of clubs because he wants the Ecuador international at San Siro.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, reported by Football Italia via MilanNews, Amorim said he had "a list of clubs that wanted him, but I said no", adding that he wanted supporters to know the decision was his own responsibility.
Aston Villa were among the clubs in talks with Milan over Estupinan at various points last season, with reports at the time suggesting the Premier League club were prepared to pay around €19m. The move never materialised, and Amorim's comments make clear why: the coach simply refused to sanction a sale.
Why Amorim is shielding his full-back
Estupinan, signed from Brighton for €18.3m in 2025, has not won over the Milan crowd despite starting regularly under Amorim. The coach was explicit about that gap between his own assessment and the stands' reaction, saying fans at other clubs also turn on certain players and that "we need to help Estupinan, and we need to help the fans understand who Estupinan is".
That framing matters tactically as much as emotionally. A left-back who does not have the terrace's trust tends to play with less margin for error, which affects decision-making in possession and the willingness to push forward and support attacks. Amorim's public defence is partly an attempt to buy his full-back that margin back.
He also pointed to Estupinan's resume, noting he has played in the Premier League and praising his work rate, before stating plainly: "He's playing because I'm the one choosing Estupinan. I believe in him, and I'm convinced he'll be really important for our team."
The subtext is a familiar one in squad management: a coach using his authority to protect a player's role rather than letting opinion dictate selection. Amorim framed it as a collective issue rather than an individual one, saying "we must simply help Estupinan because we are a team" and that if one player suffers, the whole squad should support him through it.
A difficult season to defend
The vote of confidence comes after a mixed run for Estupinan. He was sent off during Milan's Serie A defeat to Napoli at the end of September, the kind of incident that hardens scepticism around a player already facing criticism. He has made seven appearances across all competitions this season, a return that places him as a rotation option rather than an automatic starter, even if Amorim has used him in some significant fixtures.
Against Atalanta on Sunday, Milan won 3-2 with Estupinan introduced from the bench. His use as an impact substitute rather than a starter in that game reflects the balancing act Amorim is managing: keeping faith with a full-back he rates highly while still rotating his defensive options depending on the opponent and the state of the match.
That rotation is itself a tactical statement. Full-backs who are expected to contribute defensively within a settled block and offensively in transition carry a heavy workload, and Amorim's willingness to bring Estupinan on rather than start him suggests he is managing both form and the pressure building around the player rather than abandoning him altogether.
Keeping a player the manager values, even amid criticism from the stands, is a different exercise to keeping him match-sharp and trusted within the system. Amorim's comments address the first problem directly. The second will only be settled by performances, starting with how Estupinan is used as Milan's season progresses and whether the backing from his coach translates into a settled run in the side.