Massimo Ambrosini has admitted that AC Milan might have to consider selling Christian Pulisic in the summer, despite the love for him.
Pulisic has been one of the best players in Serie A since his arrival at Milan from Chelsea ahead of the 2023-24 season. The USA international has scored big goals in big games, and has regained momentum in his career after a difficult spell in London towards the end.
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However, a crossroads of sorts is approaching. Pulisic is yet to score in 2026 and has gone 12 games without finding the target, though he did get an assist in the 3-2 win over Torino last Saturday. His deal expires in 2027, and while there is a club option to extend it, exit talk is never far away.
Ambrosini: Pulisic should stay
Ambrosini spoke exclusively to GOAL about the idea that Milan might cash in on one of their big names this summer, more specifically the former Borussia Dortmund man, despite speculation about a renewal.
“I’m not sure. I’m not in his head. But normally, it shouldn’t have been a problem. He feels that everybody loves him – from the fans, from the club, from the team-mates,” he said.
“So I don’t think the contract is a problem. For me, he has a physical problem and a tactical problem, but not a contract one. Here in Milan, everybody loves him. They see the effort he puts in every time, so no, not the contract.
“I think Milan need him. I’m surely convinced of that. I don’t know what his relationship with [Massimiliano] Allegri is, I don’t know exactly. I don’t know what’s the plan of Allegri for the next year.
“Of course, AC Milan with Champions League, they will need five or six players more. And I don’t know if they have the money to buy four or five new players. So I don’t know if they are obliged to sell somebody. This is the question. This is the problem.
“It may be if Allegri wants five or four players and the club says, ‘OK, we don’t have enough money, we have to sell somebody’. I don’t know if Christian would be in this situation. But for me, if I were the coach of AC Milan, he would stay in Milan, of course.
“That’s why I think the club would like to let him stay. Of course, he’s very important. You know how important he is for the USA market. And, you know, the owner of AC Milan, you know, perfectly well. So that’s why I think he’s very important for AC Milan.”
Hope he leaves, more for his sake.
I think the biggest point be the tactical one. If he remains and Allegri will prefer 3-5-2 he may be odd man out as Rafa is the most central figure it seems particularly once healthy after an off season rest and recovery. He then would likely agree to be sold and move on amicably like rejnders last summer.
Allegri isn’t changing and Leao will always be preferred. I’ve believed this all year.
I disagree. If Allegri is going to stick with the 3-5-2 it makes more sense to keep Pulisic than Leao. Assuming they are going to bring in a proper striker, Pulisic is a much better option to play second striker in behind. Leao is at his best playing out wide as a LW.
Now playing a 4-3-3 would make more sense and we could keep them both, but Allegri is a stubborn old bird.
There is an article written in the states recently in which he sounds less committed to returning to ACM. He said during the season all he is focus on is playing but at the end he’ll get together with his agent/team to make decisions as to his future. He’s certainly leaving the door open to leaving.
Yes options are open since if he’s going to be third option in 3-5-2 he may not be keen on that role. Hes proven in 3 years to be a top serie A performer. So to take a substitute role after being a central figure may not be what he wants in his peak years of his career. I’d imagine they would want to keep him but if he’s only gonna be worth less each year so if selling, sell high. Like Reinjders
Puli said in the United States “there are options.” That doesn’t bode well. I think he will be professional and try hard to help the team, but at the end of the season he will leave, which is a pity. He won’t accept being a bench player in a 3-5-2 while at the very peak of his career. Sure, in 2026 he has been having a bad stretch, but that’s temporary; he will recover his form. It’s more up to him if he stays or doesn’t, and if I had to bet, I will now, unlike what I thought at first, say that I bet that he will leave. I will deeply regret it.