Tercera División RFEF - Promotion - Play-offs · Defender · #0 · Spain · 0 yrs
Christian Pulisic has been excluded from AC Milan's squad for the game against Atalanta due to a new muscular injury, setting the alarms for the USMNT ahead of the World Cup. AC Milan host Atalanta on Sunday, May 10, in Matchday 36 of the 2025-26 Serie A season, with the Rossoneri‘s Champions League qualification hopes hanging in the balance. The occasion has been complicated by the late withdrawal of Christian Pulisic due to injury, a development that has also set off alarm bells for the USMNT with the World Cup just over a month away. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Pulisic felt discomfort in his glute during AC Milan’s final training session on Sunday morning. Head coach Massimiliano Allegri chose not to risk the forward given the nature of the complaint and the timing of the issue. The decision to protect Pulisic went beyond simply leaving him out of the starting lineup. Allegri excluded him from the squad entirely, meaning the American will watch the Atalanta match from the stands. With the World Cup now roughly a month away, the USMNT will be hoping the injury is minor and that the natural end of the club season will allow for a full recovery before the tournament begins. In Pulisic’s absence, Allegri has opted to pair Santiago Gimenez with Rafael Leao in attack. A defeat against Atalanta would drop Milan from fourth to fifth place, pushing them out of the Champions League qualification spots with just two Serie A games remaining. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan looks dejected. Pulisic faces another fitness hurdle ahead of international duty Injuries have undoubtedly taken a toll on Pulisic during the 2025-26 campaign, derailing his momentum just as he hit his stride late last year. The forward previously missed the November international window featuring marquee matchups against Paraguay and Uruguay, and this latest setback serves as a haunting reminder of his physical struggles ahead of the summer’s big stage. While AC Milan have yet to release a formal medical bulletin, updates are expected in the coming hours regarding a definitive diagnosis and recovery timeline. Per Transfermarkt, early projections suggest the USMNT star could return by May 16, potentially making him available for the following day’s away fixture against Genoa. However, the timing remains disastrous for Pulisic, who is currently fighting to rediscover his clinical edge. His last goal dates back to a December 28 clash with Hellas Verona, and he hasn’t recorded a goal contribution since an assist against Torino on March 21, a concerning dry spell for the man expected to wear the captain’s armband for the United States in the 2026 World Cup this summer.
The early outlines of Milan’s future are beginning to take shape, and Christian Pulisic finds himself under growing scrutiny as Massimiliano Allegri maps out what the club could look like in the 2026-27 season, with attacking uncertainty still lingering. The early outlines of Milan’s future are beginning to take shape, and Christian Pulisic finds himself under growing scrutiny as Massimiliano Allegri maps out what the club could look like in the 2026-27 season, with attacking uncertainty still lingering. While Milan remains on course for a Champions League spot, questions around consistency in attack continue to dominate internal discussions. The club’s attack has struggled to deliver, with only one goal scored in the last four matches, highlighting a growing reliance on defensive stability rather than offensive firepower. The situation becomes more striking when viewed in context, as the team’s forwards continue to underperform collectively. Despite having multiple attacking options available, Milan has become increasingly predictable in the final third. One of the key tactical issues has been the pairing of Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao, which continues to produce inconsistent results. While both are highly influential individually, their partnership has yet to function effectively in Allegri’s current system. Pulisic’s workload remains heavy, often covering large areas of the pitch, while Leao continues to drift into central spaces without clear attacking coordination between the two. The imbalance has left Milan without a reliable attacking structure. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan reacts Forward line that has stalled completely The Serie A outfit’s broader attacking unit has also failed to produce goals consistently, with all five forward options experiencing significant dry spells. Players such as Christopher Nkunku, Santiago Gimenez, and Niclas Fullkrug have all struggled with fitness, form, or adaptation issues throughout the season. The struggles up front have been persistent and widespread, affecting every option available to Allegri. The entire attacking group has combined for 2,787 minutes without a goal, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport. Pulisic has become the symbol of that decline, enduring a long goal drought that stretches back months. “He’s a very sensitive guy; the fact that he’s not scoring affects him even more,” Allegri admitted after the recent Juventus tie, underlining the mental toll of the situation. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan during the Serie A match. Milan’s 2026-27 blueprint under Allegri Behind the scenes, Allegri is reportedly already working on a possible squad structure for the 2026-27 campaign, and the American star is projected to remain part of the core group in that plan. However, the surrounding attack is expected to undergo significant changes. Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests Milan could move toward a more balanced system built around midfield control and a more traditional striker presence. The idea is to reduce pressure on individual forwards and create clearer attacking roles. In a projected lineup, Pulisic is still included, highlighting his importance even amid tactical uncertainty. The club is reportedly targeting reinforcements such as Mario Gila, Leon Goretzka, Javi Guerra, and Alexander Sorloth, indicating a shift toward physicality, balance, and clearer attacking structure. How Milan could look in 2026-27 Where Pulisic fits into Allegri’s long-term vision Despite recent criticism, Pulisic is still viewed differently compared to other forwards in the squad, particularly when discussions shift toward squad planning beyond the current season. Allegri has acknowledged that tactical structure plays a role in the American’s struggles, especially in formations lacking a traditional striker. As the Italian tactician explained, “Playing without a true centre-forward, Chris struggles more, but I have to try to balance the team.” This has shaped internal thinking, wi
Santiago Gimenez has been struggling to play consistently with AC Milan, and that could impact his chances of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Mexico. Mexico are entering the final stretch of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, meaning players are fighting for their last opportunities to make the roster. In that context, Santiago Gimenez’s physical struggles at AC Milan could prove decisive. “People close to Santi are fearing a catastrophe for the Milan striker,” journalist Carlos Ponce de Leon of Mexican outlet Diario Record said this week. “They fear he could miss out on a second consecutive World Cup.” This report has surfaced this week for a specific reason. On Tuesday, Javier Aguirre confirmed a preliminary list of 12 Liga MX players who will begin training next week with a view toward the World Cup. While the list is not binding—and therefore does not guarantee a spot on the final roster—it offers a clear indication of the coach’s plans. Among those 12 players are two center forwards. One is Armando Gonzalez of Chivas, who was expected to be included, as reports suggest he is competing for a spot with Inter Miami’s German Berterame. The surprise, however, was the inclusion of another player with a similar profile: Guillermo Martinez. Javier Aguirre, coach of Mexico and Rafael Marquez, Assistant Coach. The 30-year-old forward has impressed recently with Pumas UNAM, where he has recorded five goals in 15 matches in the Liga MX Clausura tournament. Martinez has already been called up by Javier Aguirre twice this year: he played 24 minutes against Iceland in February and was an unused substitute during the March FIFA international window against Portugal and Belgium. Santiago Gimenez needs to regain full fitness Under normal circumstances, Santiago Gimenez’s place at the World Cup would not be threatened by Guillermo Martinez’s performances at Pumas. However, the recent track record of the AC Milan striker is far from encouraging. Gimenez has scored just one goal in the 2025-26 season and has made only 14 appearances across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. An ankle injury suffered in November required surgery and kept him sidelined for nearly five months, until his return in mid-March. Since then, the Mexican striker has logged just 67 minutes across three Serie A matches with AC Milan—against Torino, Napoli, and Hellas Verona— all coming off the bench, while also remaining an unused substitute on three other occasions. Gimenez has yet to debut at the World Cup Despite being one of Mexico’s most promising players in recent years, Santiago Gimenez has yet to appear at a World Cup. He was left out of the squad for Qatar 2022 by then-head coach Gerardo Martino, who opted for other forwards such as Raul Jimenez, Henry Martin, and Rogelio Funes Mori. In the years following that tournament, Gimenez established himself as a regular call-up under successive managers, including Diego Cocca, Jaime Lozano, and Javier Aguirre. However, his recent injury issues have once again pushed him out of contention, with his last appearance for Mexico coming in October 2025 against Ecuador.
Following his drop in form, Rafael Leão appears to be transferable for AC Milan, casting doubt over his continuity. In response, Manchester United are reportedly pushing for the Portuguese’s signing, proposing a pick-one-from-three formula in negotiations with the Rossoneri. Rafael Leão has gone from being a cornerstone at AC Milan to becoming transferable for the front office. After the arrival of Massimiliano Allegri, he has had to readapt his position, moving from left winger to center forward. While he had an excellent start to the season, his performances have declined, fueling talk of a possible exit. In response, Manchester United are reportedly pushing for his signing, offering a pick-one-from-three structure in their final proposal. According to Andrea Ramazzotti via La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Rossoneri are open to negotiating Leão’s departure starting at $59 million. With a contract running until 2028 and a net salary of €5.5 million, they could view his exit as a strong opportunity to reinforce their attack. While they have not traditionally been open to accepting players as part of deals, Manchester United’s approach may have shifted that stance. Amid a generational rebuild at the Red Devils, Rafael Leão emerges as an ideal solution for the left wing, as Matheus Cunha is more convincing in a central attacking or striker role. In an effort to reduce the overall cost of the deal, the English side is open to including Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford, or Manuel Ugarte as part of the operation, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport. Additionally, they would have no issue matching or even exceeding his €5.5 million net salary. Unlike the Rossoneri, Manchester United can offer Leão an ideal scenario to shine at his best. With a clear tactical emphasis on wingers, the Portuguese could rediscover his top form through his pace, dribbling, and change of rhythm, making him a key difference-maker for the team. Additionally, the Red Devils could also offer him UEFA Champions League competition, as they are close to securing qualification, making the move even more attractive. Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match. Joshua Zirkzee emerges as top Leao replacement for AC Milan After failing to deliver offensively, the Rossoneri are reportedly planning a major overhaul in attack. Not only could Rafael Leão leave, but also Christopher Nkunku, Santiago Giménez, and Niclas Füllkrug. For this reason, the potential arrival of Joshua Zirkzee would be an ideal complement to Massimiliano Allegri’s frontline, as it would not block the signing of another striker, but rather strengthen the attack in a balanced way. Joshua Zirkzee is not going through his best moment at Manchester United, often featuring as a substitute without making a major impact. Despite this, the Dutchman showed his best version in Serie A, where he impressed with Bologna. As a mobile forward, he tends to perform better as a second striker, playing off a more fixed No. 9—something that fits well with Massimiliano Allegri’s system. With Zirkzee in attack, AC Milan would gain significant scoring potential along with strong offensive quality, allowing him to combine effectively with Adrien Rabiot and a potential new signing up front. Additionally, at just 24 years old, he represents a reliable long-term option for Allegri. However, the Rossoneri may first need to secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League, which remains a challenging objective.
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