GdS: Pulisic ‘only sees Milan’

Christian Pulisic is likely one of the first names on the group sheet for Massimiliano Allegri’s AC Milan, and he’ll depend on him in Sunday’s derby too.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen beneath) recall, Pulisic handed by way of Dortmund and London however he made his fortune in Italy. With Milan he has racked up 109 video games, 38 targets and 25 assists. The American dream has grow to be crimson and black, and he doesn’t need to get up quickly.

Renewal-worthy numbers

Pulisic and Milan will quickly return to barter the extension of the contract that at present binds the events collectively till the summer time of 2027.

The ahead struggled to ascertain himself in main European soccer: throughout his years in Germany, he had by no means scored greater than 4 targets within the Bundesliga. At Chelsea, who paid €64m to signal him, he obtained 9 targets and 6 assists in his first Premier League season.

Then, nonetheless, additionally resulting from a few accidents, Pulisic’s London story was way more gloomy. The suitcase he opened in Milan was loaded with targets: 15 in his first season with the Rossoneri, 17 in complete final season (when he was the group’s high scorer), and already six in 2025-26.

Pulisic – who has since moved from the correct facet of the pitch to the centre – continues to be the Milan participant with essentially the most targets to his title. It’s honest to say that for the previous 15 months, Christian has been the group’s true high scorer. Two of his targets have are available his final three matches towards Inter, too.

A brand new model

The USA worldwide has been at Milan for the reason that summer time of 2023, acquired from Chelsea for €20m. Pulisic has discovered the dimension and recognition he was looking for: second-top scorer within the league at current, a rating with out a runaway chief.

Pulisic trails Orsolini and Calhanoglu who’ve 5 targets. Had he not missed his penalty at Juventus, he would even have been on the high. In Milan, he has additionally found a brand new model of himself: from a shy and reserved boy, he has grow to be a vocal chief in addition to a technical chief.

With him, high quality is assured: he integrates completely with Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot, not coincidentally the teammates with whom he interacts most intently on the pitch. The numbers show it: with Modric, Chris, and Rabiot beginning on the similar time, Milan’s factors common is 2.6.

Earlier than his harm, Pulisic stepped up to make sure Rafael Leao’s absence wasn’t crippling. The Portuguese is one other participant who was sidelined initially of the season, whereas a typical quantity 9 didn’t arrive from the marketplace for Pulisic to play off.

For the primary time within the derby, Chris and Rafa will likely be collectively. Of the eight complete targets the 2 have scored in Serie A, not a single one has been scored with each gamers on the pitch. The pairing Allegri envisioned in the summertime will solely make their league debuts on the finish of November.

Affinities

The ultimate ‘coaching session’ in Parma was a quick one, the place the pair’s cohesion instantly emerged: Leao’s back-heeled flick and Pulisic’s miss. It was a transparent signal of an absence of health and maybe psychological readability, which is comprehensible given he had been out for the reason that October break.

Captain America has different targets beneath his belt (32 in 82 video games for the USA), however in the intervening time he can’t be thought-about a real hero of each worlds. Seen from throughout the pond, the image adjustments, and Pulisic is taken into account (by some critics) to be a captain who isn’t out there sufficient.

He was responsible of first declining an invite to take part in the summertime Gold Cup, the equal of the European Championship, after which of pushing Milan forward in negotiations with the federation to keep away from the friendlies in mid-November.

It’s a transfer that US supporters didn’t admire, however is totally comprehensible: Pulisic had been knocked out within the pleasant between america and Australia and was subsequently pressured to overlook 4 league matches.

Within the alternative of coach Pochettino, with whom relations are usually not precisely relaxed, widespread sense prevailed. Pulisic will not be a prophet in his homeland, however he’s at Milan: it could possibly be his residence till 2030. Renewal talks will resume quickly.