After a frustrating stretch dominated by injuries and limited opportunities, Pulisic could finally have a chance to change the narrative against a familiar opponent. Christian Pulisic and Ruben Amorim are heading toward an important weekend at Milan, with the American winger closing in on his first appearance of the 2026-27 season. After a frustrating stretch dominated by injuries and limited opportunities, Pulisic could finally have a chance to change the narrative against a familiar opponent. The return would carry extra meaning given what happened the last time Milan visited Juventus. Pulisic has unfinished business in Turin, but Amorim is taking a cautious approach to his comeback, creating an intriguing situation for the American. Pulisic has endured a difficult 2026, with injuries repeatedly interrupting his momentum. His latest setback came at the World Cup, where bone edema in the area connecting the tibia and fibula of his right leg disrupted his preseason preparations and left him playing catch-up. The winger also has a particularly painful memory of Juventus‘ home stadium. On October 5, 2025, Pulisic missed a penalty in a 0-0 draw, another frustrating moment in a period when injuries prevented him from consistently showing his best form for Milan. Now, almost a year later, the American is looking for redemption. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan has a shot saved by Michele Di Gregorio of Juventus MilanNews reports that Pulisic is determined to return to the Allianz Stadium and make a positive impact after failing to score for the Rossoneri during 2026. The weekend could therefore represent an opportunity to begin putting several difficult months behind him. What did Amorim say about Pulisic’s playing time? Pulisic has already been named among the substitutes twice this season without seeing a single minute of action. That has raised questions about when Amorim will finally feel comfortable enough to put one of his most talented players back onto the pitch. The Milan manager explained after the victory over Venezia that Pulisic remains extremely important, but his workload must be carefully controlled. Amorim told reporters: “He has great talent. I simply have to manage my players’ workloads and at this moment we need to win. So it is difficult for Pulisic to find space, but he remains a hugely important player for us.” That approach is unlikely to change against Juventus, even with the 27-year-old forward eager to make his return. Amorim’s priority is to avoid rushing the American back and risking another setback, particularly given how demanding his system is physically. Christian Pulisic (left) and Ruben Amorim (right) Will Pulisic play against Juventus? That brings us to the twist surrounding Pulisic’s potential comeback. He is expected to start on the bench against Juventus rather than return directly to the starting lineup, with Amorim likely to introduce him for a limited spell if the match situation allows. There is no guarantee that Pulisic will play, either, because much will depend on how the game develops. His absence from the starting XI reflects his current fitness level rather than a lack of confidence from Amorim, who still views him as an important technical asset. As reported by MilanNews, Pulisic is expected to be given his first minutes of the season from the bench, provided the circumstances of the match allow it. That could actually be the ideal route back. A controlled appearance would allow Pulisic to rebuild his rhythm without immediately being asked to handle a full match, while also giving him the chance to rediscover the confidence that made him such an important part of Milan’s attack.
The former Real Madrid teammates remain active at the highest level, and Modric believes Ronaldo still has plenty left in the tank as he closes in on another extraordinary landmark. Cristiano Ronaldo has spent much of his career making soccer’s impossible milestones look increasingly ordinary, and Luka Modric knows that better than most. The former Real Madrid teammates remain active at the highest level, and Modric believes Ronaldo still has plenty left in the tank as he closes in on another extraordinary landmark. The Croatian midfielder has watched Ronaldo’s evolution from close range, sharing some of the greatest moments in Real Madrid’s history with him. Now, with the Portuguese superstar approaching a number that has seemed almost unthinkable for generations of players, Modric has offered a fascinating prediction about how long his former teammate could continue. Modric and Ronaldo spent six seasons together at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018, forming part of a team that dominated European soccer. The pair won four Champions League titles together, alongside numerous domestic and international honors, before eventually taking separate paths. That shared history gives Modric a unique perspective on Ronaldo’s mentality. While many players begin to slow down as they enter their late 30s and early 40s, Ronaldo has continued to score and compete at an extraordinary level. Speaking to Diario AS, Modric said: “Cristiano is incredible; he’s a phenomenon, a monster, and I have no doubt that he’s going to reach that number.” Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Real Madrid CF celebrates with his team mate Luka Modric The midfielder was responding to a question about whether he simply expected Ronaldo to reach 1,000 official career goals, a milestone that would make him the first player to achieve it. Ronaldo was reportedly just 22 goals away from the landmark at the time of the interview. Why Modric would not be surprised if Ronaldo continues to play Modric’s confidence goes beyond Ronaldo reaching 1,000 goals. The Croatian explained that the Portuguese star’s mentality and natural ability to find the net make it difficult to place a normal limit on his career. Modric told Diario AS: “I don’t know how much longer he’ll want to keep playing, but he’s going to keep scoring goals even if he wants to continue until he’s 50.” He pointed specifically to Ronaldo’s character, confidence, and relentless desire to compete. Modric added: “His gift for scoring goals is incredible, and above all, his character, his faith, and his self-confidence; it’s something incredible.” That combination is what makes Modric’s prediction feel less like exaggeration and more like an assessment from someone who knows Ronaldo extremely well. At 41, Ronaldo is still chasing goals with the same competitive edge that defined his prime years. Friendship built at Real Madrid The relationship between the two veterans goes beyond what happened on the pitch. Modric has previously spoken warmly about Ronaldo’s personality away from soccer, while Ronaldo has repeatedly shown his admiration for the Croatian midfielder. Together, they played a major role in one of Real Madrid’s most successful eras. Their four Champions League triumphs included the unprecedented European dominance of the mid-2010s, with Ronaldo leading the scoring charts and Modric controlling games from midfield. Their careers eventually moved in different directions, but neither player has followed the conventional retirement timeline. Modric remains with Milan, while Ronaldo continues his career with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. For now, the immediate target remains the 1,000-goal mark. With only 22 goals reportedly separating Ronaldo from history, Modric has little doubt that his former teammate will eventually get there.
The day, for Malick Fofana, started with Arsenal, on the hunt for a left winger, registering their interest. It ended with him signing for Sunderland, and had plenty in between.
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe (Picture: Getty) Xabi Alonso consulted Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe before sanctioning Chelsea’s bid for Roma midfielder Manu Kone, according to reports in France. Chelsea placed Kone on their list of possible midfield targets as Enzo Fernandez closed in on a move to Manchester City. Kone attracted interest from Premier League clubs after back-to-back impressive seasons in Italy and did his reputation no harm during the World Cup for France. It was reported on transfer deadline day that Chelsea were set to sign Kone, but the deal fell through and he remained at Serie A side Roma. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Chelsea also failed in a bid to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco but Fernandez was still allowed to join Man City in a deal worth £125m. Foot Mercato say Alonso, keen to bolster his midfield options ahead of Fernandez’s departure, consulted his former Real Madrid player Mbappe about his France teammate Kone. Mbappe gave Kone a glowing review and soon after Chelsea agreed a deal worth 70m euros (£60m), which was more than his expected asking price. Chelsea tried to sign Manu Kone from Roma (Picture: Getty) It is claimed Chelsea also agreed personal terms with Kone, who was keen to move to Stamford Bridge, before the deal collapses. Ultimately Roma blocked Kone from leaving as they could not find a suitable replacement, failing in their efforts to sign Youssouf Fofana from AC Milan and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerd from Marseille. The failure to sign Kone and Camara may leave Chelsea short in midfield this season, especially given Romeo Lavia’s long-term injury issues and Moises Caicedo’s recent setbacks. Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty) Chelsea sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City (Picture: Getty) Following his move to the Etihad Stadium, Fernandez said: ‘Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. ‘Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. ‘I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success. ‘If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player. I pride myself on continually improving my game. ‘Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here. ‘I want to thank Hugo, Enzo, Khaldoon and everyone at City who has made this deal possible. I want to take the faith shown in me and repay it as soon as possible.’ Chelsea face Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday after beating Fulham and Brighton in their first two games of the new season. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
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