In what has been described as an American takeover, four US-internationals could be set to star in Serie A’s headline fixture between Milan and Juventus this weekend, more than in any previous fixture in the Italian top flight.
The four in question include Milan’s summer acquisitions Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, as well as Juve’s fellow Serie A newcomer Timothy Weah and returning loanee Weston McKennie.
Until the beginning of the 2023-24 season, McKennie was one of only 10 Americans who had ever played at the highest level in Italy. Heading into this weekend, however, there is a chance that 30% of the 13 US-born players to have ever played in Serie A could take to the field at the same time.
In fact, all four are in with a high chance of starting. Pulisic has cemented himself as a guaranteed starter for the Rossoneri since his summer move to Chelsea, while McKennie has also enjoyed somewhat of a re-birth as a wing-back in Massimiliano Allegri’s 3-5-2.
Musah and McKennie, two thirds of the starting USMNT midfield at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, were not expected to walk into the starting line-ups at the beginning of the domestic season, but both have also since proved themselves as invaluable additions to their respective coaches.
Pulisic approaches the Juventus game in fine form, having registered four league goals in eight matches since the beginning of the campaign. The former Borussia Dortmund starlet added another two goals to his international tally during the break with strikes against both Germany and Ghana over the last week.
His club teammate Musah has also impressed with his recent performances, having been introduced as a starter following the injury to fellow midfield summer signing Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
In the Juventus camp, Weah and McKennie have virtually been competing for the same spot in the starting line-up.
Weah started the first two games of the season from right-wing-back and was replaced by his compatriot both times. McKennie then started the following five matches, and in turn, was replaced by Weah on all of those occasions.
However, in Juve’s most recent game before the international break against Torino, both found themselves together for the first time, with Weah claiming the wide position and McKennie reverting to a more familiar position in a midfield three.
Milan, with a record of seven wins and one loss, sit at the top of the Serie A table after eight matches, while Juve sit four points behind them in third on 17 points.
While the Bianconeri cannot mathematically go top of Serie A this weekend, they do have a valuable opportunity to reduce the gap to the top with a win at San Siro.