Sky journalist Peppe Di Stefano has told us that a ‘revolution’ in attack is possible for AC Milan this summer, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic potentially involved.
Heading into the 2025-26 campaign, Massimiliano Allegri put Pulisic and Leao at the heart of his plans. He designed the 3-5-2 system with them both in mind, and they led the attack for the first competitive game against Bari in the Coppa Italia.
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From there, things went downhill as one or the other seemed to be out for length periods with injury. They have still only started a handful of games together, and in the meantime – with both on eight league goals – there is talk of contract renewals being discussed.
Leao and Pulisic at risk?
Peppe Di Stefano gave an interview exclusively to SempreMilan in which he spoke about Massimiliano Allegri’s impact, Mike Maignan’s renewal, the Jean-Philippe Mateta saga and other issues. He also made some predictions about the summer.
“A revolution in attack wouldn’t surprise me, especially since I see difficulties renewing some contracts, like Pulisic’s, for example,” he said.
“I don’t see Leao’s permanence as a certainty, as he remains the team’s strongest player, but for Allegri – also due to his numerous injuries – he’s no longer the untouchable he was in previous seasons. Offers will be evaluated.”
Don’t see both of them leaving, not with UCL participation on the horizon. Also with Milan’s cap on spent for suitable replacements it will seriously rock the boat with both of them leaving. And yes this might just be some speculative bs.
If Allegri plans to play any system that doesn’t involve use of a winger, Leao should be the 1st player sold. I doubt Allegri will change the system especially the 3 men defense, and Milan doesn’t have the midfielders to play with only 2, if they play 343.
Out of every striker/forward Milan has this season, Leao is the one that has been the worst in the 2 men front. Milan looks very poor in attack when he plays, regardless of who is he paired up with.
Also, if the rumors are true that whatever groin injury he has is chronic, take the money while you can and run. As I have said here for many years, Leao is just an athlete. We see him this season without the athleticism. If he can’t outrun slower defenders he is a non factor on the pitch.
Pulisic had 2 pretty healthy seasons at Milan but this year he has been very injury prone just like back at Chelsea. He was probably the best player in the league for the first 2 months of the season, but if you aren’t available none of that matters. Reminds of Dybala. He is arguably the best player in the league when healthy but he is rarely healthy.
Best ability is availability, and Pulisic injury past and present doesn’t bode well for the future. Better to sell a player a year early than a year too late.
Milan has some tough choices to make this summer.
I get what you mean that Leao has been really lacking in performance this season… but he is still 8 goals and 2 assists despite the fact… most games he is unable to move like previous years but he has still come up and either scored winners or scored draws for Milan this year. Closest to
Pulisics numbers, better than Nkunku, definitely better than Fulkrug and Gimenez…
I have said this before, outside of the goal Leao scored vs Lazio at home, the other goals came with Leao drifting left, from penalties or the goal vs Como on a counter attack. The goals Leao scored from penalties make his numbers look better than they are. His assists are not there, because he creates almost nothing.
The problem is much bigger than his numbers. Even in the games he scored goals, in most of them he was still the worst player on the pitch. Even Sempre Milan notes that in the ratings after those games. The team offensively looks bad when Leao is playing.
Gimenez numbers look awful, but his constant movement and dirty work allowed the team to play better.
Nkunku has been as bad as Leao. Penalties makes his numbers look better than they are. He just like Leao is mostly non factor in games.
Fulkrug has been there only for a cup of coffee.
Tha attack by far looks the best when Pulisic is playing, especially when he plays alongside Gimenez or Fulkrug. He is constantly involved in the play, while you forget that Leao and Nkunku are on the pitch when they play. But, unfortunately Pulisic has been mostly injured.
As per your logic, then Pulisic will also be on the chopping block next season if he doesn’t recover from his constant physical issues. His unavailability for quite a stretch this season is also a concern pointing to his physical condition, especially playing in the attacking role which requires higher fitness level.
Neither is a natural striker. The central attacker situation in Italy is horribly bad, with only Martinez as a world class striker, which shows in the scoring table. Not much to buy domestic.
Sell Pulisic and Leao, keep Nkunku and Fullkrug (for the lack of better), and go out and find two decent attackers for the Leao/Pulisic money. At this point, any attacker capable of scoring 15 goals in a season is a big upgrade.
Some names that comes to mind that might want to move this summer and are more “Allegri like”-
Zirkzee in United
Guirassy in Dortmund
Osimhen in Galatasaray
a striker capable of scoring 15 goals in Serie A is at least 80 million dollars. Selling BOTH Leao and Pulisic is nuts. Only Osimhen MAY be able to play that well again but he’s not leaving for less than 100 million. If you sell Pulisic and Leao, who is feeding Osimhen any goals? Only one can leave.
“Sell Pulisic… keep Nkunku”
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
That is the stupidest thing I’ve read this year so far!!! 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
For some reason I have a feeling Leao’s groin will never be 100% again. His chronic injury has no blown up in public so we’d better take the money and run. I would even consider offers coming from Saudi.
Him playing with 50-70% fitness will make his hamstring pop soon. I hope I’m wrong but there is a major injury coming due to him being on the pitch while clearly unfit.
“I don’t see Leao’s permanence as a certainty, as he remains the team’s strongest player…….needless to say more, I don’t understand the thinking of some of this “baby” fans……sell your best player to buy who?
Someone better. They already have Pulisic who is better but someone else.
Someone else? Like who?
Pulisic is a better player than Leao? Come on. He runs harder, absolutely. That does not make him a better player. It makes him a better water carrier.
Roughly the same/better goal contributions last seasons. If you count them per minutes played, Pulisic wins. Pulisic also works twice as much and presses & defends. Only a blind person can’t see him outperforming Leao in basically every measurement.
Here’s a better idea, don’t sell our two best players and get rid of the clown playing a 532 which doesn’t suit either of them.
Also the same guy with a horrible track record of attackers’ fitness. Pulisic and Leao had very little injury troubles (at Milan) til this guy arrived
You win the internet Greg. In no way was 3-5-2 designed for CP and Leao.
Allegri has won the joint most league titles in the history of the league. He knows what he’s doing. You do not.
Those titles came long ago. Not relevant after him collecting the “Most Draws” awards recent years instead of trophies.
All of a sudden Nkunku signing makes more sense if you put it into the perspective of Leao or Pulisic leaving.
Yes to ACM 1899. Also it makes no sense to me that this system was designed for Leão and Pulisic. At best it’s for a true 9 and a player who can float and connect. I’ve been saying that Pulisic will leave at the end of the year and I am more sure of that prediction now. Always the plan with the signing of Nkunko? Signing Pulisic to a new contract with him losing a big tax waiver won’t fly. Italy will tax all his US income from endorsements. I think we are going to see less and less of Pulisic to avoid the risk of a serious injury.
I think Allegri would like to move to a xmas tree formation and let the two attacking kids spread out more in attack and tuck in on defense. It can take Puli or Leao. I REALLY don’t think Nkunku is in the long term plans, at least as a starter. Same with Fullkrug. I think they’ll both be gone in the summer, although there’s a change they keep Fullkrug as a backup. Leao could go for 60-80 mil but they could def get 80 mil for Puli, so idk. I also think Puli is more of an Allegri player than Leao but idk. I think the idea is to bring in Vlahović and have Leao and Puli or at least one of those in behind. Bringing in 3 new starters (even if he kept the 352) would just be a lot especially with the first year back in the champions league. They need to go for the scudetto next year as a target so it just doesn’t make sense, unless you bring someone in like Mbappe or Vini JR which isn’t going to happen.
From a unbiased standpoint I think Leao need to go to the premier league to reach his full potential. He needs to be forced through rigious training program. In Italy players have more freedom, he don’t have the discpline
Milan should go all out for Osimhen,he may be tempted for revenge
Clickbait. Just words with no real insight, which is typical here. Revolution? There’s a revolution every year under these owners. At the end of the season, Allegri and Tare will evaluate what’s needed and who could be moved on to secure funds for a striker. What seems likely:
Gimenez – Almost certainly sold unless he becomes prime Van Basten when he returns next month.
Nkunku – lazy, fat, cripple, will be shipped off to Turkey (hopefully)
Pulisic – If he has a great world cup, his value will be high. Given his injury problems this season (and historically), I doubt Milan will turn down €50-60 million from an EPL club
Getting greedy Vlahovic seems unlikely.
Lewandowski’s wages will also be an issue.
Goretzka is a mediocre player, he will go elsewhere.
My guess is Keane is the most realistic target, given Fiorentina will be without European football.
With the success of De Winter and Athekame, Milan will continue to look for lesser known names especially as at the moment, Futuro and the Primavera isn’t doing its job and readying players for the first team.
Pulisic I think is the most likely to go. Your valuation of 50-60 ml is more reasonable than the 80 ml I often see in the papers. There is going to be trouble working out a new deal with him due to the change in the Italian growth decree. I am not a tax expert but AI indicates that this can result in the doubling of the gross costs for top tier signings. No wonder Pulisic and ACM have not signed a new contract. Overall, I wonder how much this tax change will impact the quality of Serie A. If it becomes a more just Italians player league the quality will go down. The very top Italian players often play in England or Spain. If you can’t fill out the team with foreign players, good luck. Truth is that Serie A works a bit like a developmental league. Look at the EPL and how many foreign players are on the top teams.
Milan should keep all of the current players and add a few more in the summer. Although, I suspect someone is going to be sold to finance the summer market. Pity, I quite like this squad.
Pulisic is a playmaker Leao is a finisher only, and only when he actually finishes.
Build the team around Modrich and Pulisic.
Leao is lazy and isn’t good enough to play like Messi.
Need some young, hungry players who are willing to put in the effort.
Milan will never win any trophy if they continue buying under average players. Criticizing laeo is very uncalled for. Milan is known for the traditional 433 formation, and laeo is not a striker but a winger. So allegri should understand that laeo and pulisic are both wingers or even better in the midfield than striking.