It has been another whirlwind summer Mercato in Italy with plenty of fresh talent arriving, specifically from the U.S., where there is plenty of buzz and excitement ahead of the 2023-24 Serie A campaign, writes Matt Santangelo.
The rise of the U.S. Men’s National Team over the last few years has seen many forge their path in Europe, seizing the opportunity to feature on some of the biggest stages club football has to offer.
While the Bundesliga and Premier League have welcomed many Americans over the years with players like Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna and Brenden Aaronson, this new wave of stars from the National Team have taken the plunge into Italian football at the league’s most prominent clubs.
Moving from Lille, Brooklyn native Timothy Weah follows in the footsteps of his father, George with a foray of his own into Italy. George enjoyed an illustrious playing career, thriving during his stint at Milan, where he won the 1996 Serie A title under Fabio Capello and football’s most prestigious solo honour, the Ballon d’Or.
While his 23-year-old son does not possess the prolific finishing like his father, nor has the elite profile, Timothy is projected to play a vital role as a hybrid wingback in Massimiliano Allegri’s system.
Serving to replace Juan Cuadrado, who swapped Bianconero for Nerazzurro, this summer in controversial fashion, the ex-Celtic loanee has not lost sight of his winger background. He has the penchant for bursting forward, supporting in the attack to exploit space while also proving to be a tireless runner who does not shy away from tracking back to defend his ground; certainly a player tailor-made for Allegri who values his wingback.
Weah has joined his compatriot Weston McKennie in Turin. The ex-Leeds loanee was tipped to leave at the beginning of the summer transfer window but joined his teammates for a preseason tour in the USA in July and is expected to stay at the Allianz Stadium at least until January.
Unlike Oguchi Onyewu and Sergiño Dest, who spent brief and rather underwhelming spells at the San Siro club, Pulisic arrives in Milan as a main attraction and a key member of Stefano Pioli’s now revamped roster. Whether in a wide role or tucked inside to be a connecting presence, ‘Captain America’s’ ability to weave in and around tight areas, along with his efficient dribbling and chance creation, should be of great use to Pioli.
The 24-year-old from Hershey, Pennsylvania, is more than just a playmaker. He is the undeniable symbol of American football at the moment and a talent with quality who will bring a lot of new eyeballs to Milan and the league on a weekly basis.
Joining his countryman in pulling on the famous red and black shirt is Yunus Musah. Transferring over Valencia, Musah’s role as a No. 8 with the national side could impact a potential shift from a 4-2-3-1 to a more appeasing 4-3-3 as the personnel is there for Pioli.
The New York-born youngster may be raw, but as a strong, progressive ball carrier with clear technical upside, some suggest he can be transformed into the number 6 the club has failed to sign since Franck Kessie left for Barcelona.
If he can receive in the initial build-up and use the strengths he currently has, Musah might be able to lock down a starring role.
Spending some of his formative years in the Veneto area in the Giorgione Calcio setup, the 20- year old midfielder’s fluency in the Italian language should also aid in his adaption. There is chatter surrounding these three newcomers to Serie A as nothing more than commercial opportunities to elevate the leagues’ profile stateside.
While that likely played into their moves in some capacity, you do not suit up for Juventus and Milan without possessing noticeable ability. Ultimately though, with mounting expectations, that ability must be demonstrated on the pitch, which adds to the intrigue of Serie A from an American point of view in 2023/24.
Twitter: @Matt_Santangelo