United States coach Gregg Berhalter gave his thoughts on Christian Pulisic’s move to Milan, calling it a ‘great opportunity for him’.
The 24-year-old American winger completed a €22m total move from Chelsea to the Rossoneri on Thursday, signing a four-year contract in the Lombardy capital.
Pulisic is now expected to play an important role on the right side of the pitch for Milan, lowering the reliance on star winger Rafael Leao. The recent arrival of his former Chelsea teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek will likely help both players adapt to life in Italy.
Speaking on page eight of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Berhalter first discussed why Milan signed Pulisic this summer.
“Pulisic is a star in America, but for Milan he’s not just a question of marketing. Christian has a lot of quality and was signed by the Rossoneri above all for his usefulness, not just because he is an American player.”
He was asked about how the winger’s move was perceived by those in America.
“For us it’s important news, a great opportunity for him and for the development of our football. He has chosen a great club, with a rich tradition. He will play to win the league and Champions League, he’s a strong player, he was born for this.”
The USMNT coach commented on how Pulisic could be used by Milan.
“In the meantime, he can play several roles and that’s no small thing. He can play without problems on both flanks, as a trequartista and he does well as an attacking midfielder thanks to his creativity. He is also dynamic, works a lot in both phases and in terms of assists he can say his piece.”
Berhalter spoke about how the 24-year-old will find life in Serie A.
“He has worked with great coaches and is an intelligent guy, he knows how to adapt to changes and novelties. He has been playing at a high level in Europe for years, it is not a given.
“He is a leader, I hope he’ll do well there too. He doesn’t speak much in the locker room, but when he does, everyone stops to listen to him.”
He touched on Milan linked midfielder Yunus Musah.
“An excellent guy. He is the classic box-to-box midfielder, he combines good dribbling with great speed.”
Finally, Berhalter was asked about the growth of American players in European football.
“Tournaments like La Liga and Serie A are choosing strong players and this is a great sign for the US. Another example is Weah, who was just picked up by Juve.
“By playing in such important leagues, the boys can only grow and in turn raise the level of our football.
“In a few years we will host the World Cup together with Mexico and Canada, it will be another showcase.”