Christian Pulisic’s future is an issue that Gerry Cardinale would rather not have to solve, but crunch talks are planned.
New York City FC CEO Brad Sims openly admitted during a media event organised by the MLS that he dreams of signing the Milan star, the best American player of this era. Another part of the interview deserves reflection.
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“We believe Christian will want to play here, he will want to play in the MLS, and he will want to return home. Whatever the time, we think and hope that New York City FC is at the top of his list of teams he would like to play for. Milan doesn’t want to sell him, so that means the deal is stalled for now.”
The Pulisic puzzle
NYCFC’s CEO may have confirmed that Pulisic is far from convinced of staying with Milan and is also open to a return to MLS. After turning down the renewal proposed by the Rossoneri a year ago, the forward has never sent clear and reassuring messages about his future.
The feeling is that the American is tempted by the possibility of starting a new professional chapter and that he ‘needs new motivation’. The dull and dismal second half of last season further supports this now widespread feeling.
Milan have always been calm about the Pulisic situation even in recent months, because – despite the player’s concerns – the contract includes a clause (which the club can unilaterally activate) for a renewal until 2028.
Cardinale knows that exercising this option alone won’t be enough to give Amorim the best possible version of Pulisic, though. The RedBird owner wants to make the ex-Chelsea man the symbol of the new era, but he needs the player’s approval.
Pulisic is currently enjoying his vacation, and Cardinale is in no rush to address the matter. They’re in frequent contact with his entourage, and a call with the player will be scheduled soon. The RedBird No.1 wants to propose a new contract with better terms than his current ones.
This is a strong signal to strengthen his leadership status within the squad and restore the confidence he’s lost in recent months. The transfer market could provide a helping hand: Roma have long since withdrawn, and the only real option (at present) is a return home to the MLS.
The only real concern should be that of his physical condition, the technical reasons shouldn’t be a bother, he will flourish with
a proper AMRC and (with) Ramos upfront.
*up front
No point in forcing a player to stay. If he’s motivated, he’ll do well. Otherwise, someone should come knocking with a bag full of €€€s – preferably 60-70M.
This is beyond ridiculous. If a player is not motivated to stay why force them? Pulisic is on a decline and this is the perfect time for Milan to cash in on him.
Get the 55-60m and sign Phil Foden or someone else who wants to play. Clearly Pulisic doesn’t want to stay at Milan. So there’s no point in trying to convince him to stay.
Renew his contract at a higher salary knowing his decline and injury history would be the dumbest decision ever made by Cardinale.
Both Leao and Pulisic should be sold this summer and Milan should not wait until the last minute to offload them. That way we can reinvest the money into younger players who are motivated to play at Milan.
Pulisic and Leao are nothing special. Just average players who are inconsistent and lack mental strength of a true champion. Bye. Smh
this is the dark truth nobody wants to admit or look into even amongst the top brass in Casa Milan. And this is supposed to be the right way to go.
Anyways as fans we can only watch and hope the management get this mercato right.
That would mean changing 7/11 starting players from the previous season- Tomori (or De Winter), Gabbia, Fofana, Modric, Bartesaghi, Pulisic, Leao; perhaps that’s a bit too much?
First of all, aren’t you the fool that wanted replace Leao and Pulisic with Zaniolo and Daniel Maldini? LOL.
Also you shold know 90% of these articles are completely made up gossip and rumors. Pulisic has actually said none of this.
To say Pulisic is on the decline is beyond dumb. He’s consistently been at the top of Serie A in goal contributions since he arrived. The struggles in the second half of last season had more to do with Allegri’s tactics and minor injuries than anything else. If you noticed all of our attacking players had poor results under Allegri’s cowardly tactics.
This exactly! Judging an offensive player in a Allegri system is idiotic. As stated above every offensive player had a bad season…this screams Managment issue. If that’s not obvious to you than we can’t even have a real conversation about this.
K, you right, you can’t judge any offensive player who played in Allegri’s system. Saying ‘I told you so’ as I predicted how bad the team would look offensively. The other issue people are missing is the absolute mess management has been. He will have had five managers in his time at ACM. And, they hired Allegri. Do you blame him for taking a wait and see attitude?
Pulisic stats for time at Milan: 129 apps, 42 goals,
24 assists. At bad for a player entering his prime
While having the 2nd or 3rd most goal contributions in the whole league of all players since joining Milan with only Lautaro (and perhaps Leao now due to Puli’s long goal drought) ahead of him. Not bad at all.
Return to MLS? Pulisic never played in MLS. I think he is trying to leverage influence at the club but at least report the facts accurately. If red turd cardinale has anything more than a bird brain he wouldn’t give in to the player because we’ve seen what happened to the US in the World Cup.
if Pulisic & Leao gone, we need better or atleast same quality replacement (it will cost big $ of course) but if they relies in Nkunku & Gimenez as goal getter (beside Ramos) wich seem likely, we will be in big trouble
Sell, sell, sell. Get Uzan Can
Dude’s mysteriously lost his ‘motivation’ ever since Milan stalled the contract talks after his decline in form, lol. Then the goals and assists also mysteriously dried up in the second half of the season, as if saying, “Well, I don’t give a s*** either.”
Sell his ass. No use pampering egos like him and Leao.
Since Pulisic has been with Milan he’s been one of highest scorers in serie a. Yet we have players on loan who get paid more. He outscored or tied Leao every year, plus he actually plays defense. He drops in offensive under Allegri’s brillant plan, while plagued with injuries. Then every fan here talks trash about him like he never did anything for our club. Is it really a wonder he doesn’t want to extend with us? Why don’t we try to support the players we have, instead of screaming for the whole team to be replaced every year.
Everyone knows Pulisic’s form dropped drastically since the winter break. If Leao’s performances are what you’re comparing him with, the bar is very, very low. Leao has had one terrific season for Milan since his arrival in 2019 — in 21/22, when he was MVP. Before and after that, he’s flattered to deceive.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Milan. Since Pulisic’s arrival at Milan, he has had two above average seasons in his first two years and one disappointing season last year. If he’s mentally so weak that he doesn’t want to extend just because some fans are critical of him, he doesn’t belong at Milan. At huge clubs like Milan, criticism comes with the territory.
Milan were well within their rights to exercise caution during extension talks with Pulisic. If he responds to it with a drastic loss of form, sell his ass.
Shame on all who believe what is written here. Obvious mistakes:
1. Pulisic wants to leave Milan
2. Pulisic wants to return to the MLS (never played there)
3. Pulisic is on vacation (rehabbing and prepping for the season at Milan)
4. Pulisic lost focus or is weak
He has not scored for Milan in 2026 but for the majority of time when he played, he was the best player on the pitch including Modric included. Shame on all who trash talk the player who is #2 in Serie A goals since he joined the team. Ollie and Ben are Pulisic haters and should be called out for trash journalism
Rabiot?
Rabiot is a solid player but accumulates too many Yellow Cards. He will miss at least two games each season due to reaching the threshold of five. For every Yellow card he receives the referees miss one. He borders on being a dirty player and tends to throw his elbow at the neck and above on opposing players. In big games what’s to do when he gets a Yellow card in the first half and we have to substitute him in the second half when we need him. Sitting on the bench due to Yellow card accumulation reflects an immature player that costs the team.
“He has not scored for Milan in 2026 but for the majority of time when he played, he was the best player on the pitch including Modric included.”
Modric, Rabiot, Pulisic plus Maignan & Pavlovic, sometimes even Leao. Two games out of 38 per season is practically nothing, it’s not even worth mentioning.
Everyone knows Pulisic’s form dropped drastically since the winter break. If Leao’s performances are what you’re comparing him with, the bar is very, very low. Leao has had one terrific season for Milan since his arrival in 2019 — in 21/22, when he was MVP. Before and after that, he’s flattered to deceive.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Milan. Since Pulisic’s arrival at Milan, he has had two above average seasons in his first two years and one disappointing season last year. If he’s mentally so weak that he doesn’t want to extend just because some fans are critical of him, he doesn’t belong at Milan. At huge clubs like Milan, criticism comes with the territory.
Milan were well within their rights to exercise caution during extension talks with Pulisic. If he responds to it with a drastic loss of form, sell his ass.
12+9 & 11+11 are not “above average”, but two fantastic double digit seasons. He was the best player by far. No need to play him down.
*15+11 & 17+12
Article and comments are a little off. First, Puli was great the first half of last season. So he was top 5 attacker in Serie A for 2.5 seasons, despite 4 managers, only one of whom really rated him. Second, who didn’t want out of Allegri ball the second half of the season? Puli has always played better off a focal point. Leao/puli pairing was the dumbest thing ever.
Now, if I’m either Puli or Milan, what makes sense is to just chill out until December. Best case, player and team are both thriving and we extend. In all other cases, we are probably best served by selling, because all other cases involve an unhappy Puli or a Puli not worth extending. I would only add 1-1.5 years at a time, so no more than 3 years under contract. You have to expect him to break down more as he ages.
sell him or next year nobody want him
Pulisic was easily the best player on the team for 2.5 years(not counting Modric) and it’s not hard to see when his form dropped. It’s when Allegri played him and Leao up top all the time. That set up destroyed Pulisics production in the 2nd half last year. He’s in his prime. It would be stupid to sell him at this point. The only fair concern is his health but he was relatively healthy his first 2 years at Milan.
Milan Has sold all the motivated players.
Now milan can live with estupido, be winter type of players. lol
We got 2 good seasons out of him, now he’s back to being feeble.
Pulisic must stay. Just add more quality around him and he will shine again.