Christian Pulisic and AC Milan are closing in on agreeing a contract extension which will see him net a pay rise, a report claims.
There is no doubting that Pulisic has established himself as one of the most important players at Milan since arriving from Chelsea in the summer 2023 window, racking up 23 goals and 17 assists in 70 games.
It is understandable, therefore, that clubs are starting to take note and a recent report suggested that he has ended up in Liverpool’s sights to replace Mo Salah, in the event of the Egyptian’s farewell at the end of the season (his contract expires at the end of the season).
According to what is being reported by Matteo Moretto of Relevo, there is an ‘agreement in the process of being defined’ between Milan and Pulisic for a contract extension.
The new deadline should be 2028 with an option for an extra year, or until 2029 with no option. The American’s salary will be raised as a result, going to around €4-5m net per season.
Pulisic currently has a contract with the Rossoneri until 2027, with an option to renew for another year, and everything suggests that he is happy at the club that has helped him rediscover his best form.
€5M a year seems like a bargain compared to his impact not only on the field but also tv ratings and jersey sales. His puma contract estimated to be less than $10m a year.
Not feeling badly for him but mid tier NBA players make $20m+ a year days.
American sports teams in the top 3 leagues (NFL, NBA and MLB) average much higher revenues than the vast majority of European football clubs, thanks to overcommercialization and profit sharing. I doubt Europeans would be OK paying 20 euro for a watery beer or over 100 euro for a seat in the nosebleeds even when it’s not a marquee matchup. Those leagues also have zero competition for their audiences, so they max out their TV distribution rights and for the same reasons advertising income is exponential. A baseball player just signed a 3/4 billion dollar contract over 10 years. That’s 75m per year to hit a ball with a stick. It’s only a matter of time (within the next 5 years) that we’ll see the first 1bn contract.
This seems a no-brainer, really for both sides. Pulisic thrives in Milan and that’s good for everybody. I don’t think he should go back to the Prem. Yes, he has much more lower body strength now, but it’s a brutal league and I think he’d be injured more there than in Serie A. I could see him going to Madrid or Barca, since he grew up idolizing those teams, but I can’t see him wanting to leave for anywhere else unless a manager with a new philosophy came in and did not play him. And that’s really only going to happen if you get a manager who wants wingbacks and a more physically imposing attacking midfield. But Leao fits that vision even worse than Pulisic.
Please keep in mind that, especially with a favorable compensation package for any acquiring team, the added length of a new agreement also will allow Milan to command a larger transfer fee. Puli thrives with Milan, and it would be wonderful to see him grow into a club legend.
I thought Pulisic was already making €5M a year, which was less than he was making at Chelsea.