Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic linked with Napoli swap deal, Juventus – Reports

By Joe Prince-WrightMay 10, 2023, 7:05 AM EDT

Christian Pulisic has been linked with a swap deal as he could be heading to Napoli with Victor Osimhen heading to Chelsea, while Juventus are reportedly interested.

That is according to transfer guru Ekrem Konur, while the Daily Mail also has a similar report as they follow Konur in saying Juventus are keen on signing Pulisic.

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Per the initial report, Pulisic has been offered to Napoli as part of a deal to sign the leading goalscorer in Serie A, Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian forward led Napoli to their first league title in 33 years and club president Aurelio de Laurentiis has since said Osimhen is not for sale.

But Chelsea are pushing hard to make Osimhen the focal point of their attack as Todd Boehly and Co. continue to spend money like it is going out of fashion, while Pulisic and other Chelsea players will likely be offered up as part of deals to revamp the Blues squad once again.

Would a move to Italy be good for Pulisic?

Pulisic, 24, is clearly ready to move on from Chelsea and he has just one year left on his current contract at the west London club so a transfer fee of $20-25 million is a reasonable valuation.

In recent weeks he hasn’t even featured off the bench (he last played almost one month ago) and now seems like the right time for everyone to move on.

Pulisic clearly has options in Italy as he’s been linked with Juventus, AC Milan and now Napoli and when you think about his technical ability and pace, a move to Serie A would perhaps allow him to use his best assets more often than in the Premier League. Napoli would be a great fit for Pulisic given their style of play and Luciano Spaletti has helped winger Khvica Kvaratskhelia flourish this season. But would he, like Hirving Lozano, play every week?

Injuries haven’t helped Pulisic over the last four seasons but he just never seemed like a good fit for Chelsea and so many managerial changes has also curtailed his development. Wherever he goes next he has to be the main man and play week in, week out.

What type of club should he be looking for?

A Champions League club. That is clear. Chelsea won’t be in the Champions League next season and although they are clearly going to spend big to get back there soon, Pulisic needs to be playing for a team in the Champions League to remain at the very top of his game.

He could remain in the Premier League and go to a team fighting for European qualification and a top six spot but is that really what he wants?

Pulisic has shown his class in the Champions League over the years and he is clearly capable of being a star player on a team pushing for the latter stages of the competition.

Whether it is in Italy, Spain or even heading back to Germany, Christian Pulisic needs to move to a team playing in the Champions League and, most importantly, he needs to go somewhere where he will play every week. At this stage of his career that is imperative.

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Christian Pulisic Watch: How did USMNT star fare in rare Cheslea start?

By Nicholas MendolaApr 16, 2023, 6:35 AM EDT

A rare start for Christian Pulisic is an occasion to watch struggling Chelsea even closer.

The USMNT winger started in a wildly-changed Blues unit against Brighton, as Chelsea has a Premier League match sandwiched between UEFA Champions League quarterfinal legs versus Real Madrid.

[ MORE: Premier League Golden Boot race ]

But his day was short, as were the days of Enzo Fernandez and Raheem Sterling. The trio subbed out of a 1-1 game at Stamford Bridge, and that means one of two things for the American.

He, like Fernandez and maybe Sterling, has a role in the unlikely comeback bid against Real in a few days.
He’s only getting 55 minutes in a game that Frank Lampard all-but mailed-in prior to its kickoff.

Anyway, here’s how the day went for Pulisic as his attacking mates and him barely saw the ball due to Brighton’s masterclass.

“Thanks goodness for deflections,” said Chelsea.

8th minute: Pulisic’s first touch sees him try to hold up the ball for an overlapping run but he’s tackled well and hits the deck — no call — as Brighton goes the other way.

19th minute: Pulisic Watch has been basically been a lot of Pulisic watching, too. He’s had the one touch and a lost aerial duel, but he has now seen Mykhailo Mudryk drive into the Brighton defense to set up a deflected goal for Conor Gallagher. Not much more to report. It’s all going on on the other sides of the pitch: Chelsea’s half and, often, the left side.

23rd minute: Here we go from the American. Moments after drawing a foul, played to advantage, to get the ball out of Chelsea’s end, Pulisic dinks the ball over a defender before sending a wayward chipped cross well over the mob of players in the 18.

Stoppage time: Out of nothing — literally, the front three have under 40 touches for the half — it’s a diving near-post header off said near post for Pulisic. This will go to the break at 1-1 following a Danny Welbeck equalizer earlier in the half.

Pulisic’s halftime stat line: 13 touches, 5-of-5 passes, 2-of-2 completed dribbles, one foul drawn, 3-of-5 duels won, one shot.

56th minute: That’s it for Pulisic. The USMNT leaves the pitch along with Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana, and Raheem Sterling after the Blues were dominated again in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Pulisic’s full-time stat line: 18 touches, 6-of-7 passes, 2-of-2 completed dribbles, one foul drawn, 3-of-5 duels won, one shot.

Analysis: What a waste, and not by the USMNT man. We could judge this even more harshly come 5-6pm ET on Tuesday. Why? If Pulisic’s not starting or the first sub off the bench against Real Madrid, then how can anyone justify his being lifted from this game as part of what was essentially a quadruple sub. Either way, there will be a new boss in Chelsea blue this summer and Pulisic may want to leave almost regardless of that person’s identity.

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Player ratings: USMNT thumps Grenada in Nations League

By Andy EdwardsMar 25, 2023, 6:18 PM EDT

The USMNT kicked off the 2026 World Cup cycle as the Yanks reconvened (the first team, at least) for the first time since the 2022 tournament in Qatar, in a 7-1 victory Grenada on Friday.

[ MORE: Folarin Balogun to USMNT? “It’s something that will come to me” ]

Who stood out (for better and for worse) as the USMNT thumped Grenada?

USMNT player ratings vs Grenada

GK – Matt Turner: 6 – Faced just three shots on target (0.36 xG), made two saves and watched helplessly as a screamer from outside the box hit the back of the net.

RB – Bryan Reynolds: 6.5 – The USMNT focused the vast majority of its attacking play down the left side of the field, making Reynolds the target of a handful of cross-field switches as he played the full 90 minutes.

CB – Mark McKenzie: 7 – Teamed up with his former center back partner from his Philadelphia Union days, McKenzie was tasked with being far and away the senior figure and leader of the defense on Friday (his 10 caps were four more than the rest of the back-four combined).

CB – Auston Trusty: 7 – A solid performance in his USMNT debut for the 24-year-old Arsenal defender (on loan to Birmingham City, where he has appeared in 37 games in the Championship thus far). With nearly 70 percent of possession on the night, there aren’t many better opportunities to get your feet wet at the senior international level.

LB – Joe Scally: 7.5 – Do not get overly excited about a 20-year-old’s performance against Grenada. I repeat, do not get overly excited about a 20-year-old’s performance against Grenada. That said, does the USMNT have… two left backs?

🇺🇸 Joe Scally led the U.S. with 64 first-half touches.

🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic was second with 58. pic.twitter.com/v3rHgfN1Gt

— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 25, 2023

DM – Luca de la Torre: 7 – It would be unwise to assign too much value to a game that finished 7-1 against the no. 173-ranked nation in the world, but one thing is for certain and has been proven on a number of occasions: LdlT is a smooth operator as a ball-playing defensive midfielder, and he showed himself quite capable further up the field, in and around the opposing penalty area, on Friday as well.

CM – Weston McKennie: 8 – Two goals (both off of free kicks) for the newly acquired Leeds midfielder, which would be an incredibly welcome development for a side that hasn’t made enough of its set pieces in recent times.

CM – Gio Reyna: 6.5 – This was the solid, if unspectacular, return that Reyna needed after weeks of off-field controversy surround himself, his family and former (but perhaps future) head coach Gregg Berhalter. There were plenty of fireworks elsewhere in the team on Friday, and Reyna managed to come through the game unscathed.

RW – Brenden Aaronson: 7 – It’s been a tough first season in the Premier League for Aaronson, so his first-half goal will hopefully provide a much-needed boost in confidence (his first goal, for club or country, in any competition, since Aug. 21, his third game for Leeds).

CF – Ricardo Pepi: 8 – Aside from scoring the opening goal, Pepi was active and involved in much of what the USMNT tried to do going forward in the first half. Given how deep Grenada sat defensively to begin the game, the Yanks could have taken the easy way out — staying wide and crossing the ball repeatedly — every time down the field, but there appeared to be a concerted effort to combine through the middle of the field, which meant Pepi had to be sharp and quick with his movement to create space for Reyna, Aaronson and Christian Pulisic. Speaking of building confidence, how about the finish for his second goal…

All aboard the Pepi Train? @FCDallas 🚅

📺: @NBCUniverso & @peacock #USMNT pic.twitter.com/8gfn1kmLTd

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) March 25, 2023

LW – Christian Pulisic: 8 – Ho hum. Just a one-goal, two-assist performance from Pulisic. As previously discussed, the USMNT found infinite joy down the left side of attack and Pulisic was at the center of most of it (for 64 minutes, at least).

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Christian Pulisic Watch: How did USMNT star play for Chelsea vs Everton?

By Nicholas MendolaMar 18, 2023, 2:53 PM EDT

Christian Pulisic, now healthy, drew his first Premier League start since New Year’s Day when he joined the Chelsea XI for Saturday’s match with pink-clad Everton, going 62 minutes for the Blues.

A knee injury kept him out of a Premier League lineup from Jan. 12 to March 11, when he made a cameo off the bench against Leicester City.

STREAM LIVE CHELSEA vs EVERTON

Those 17 minutes came after six against old club Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of a UEFA Champions League tie.

Pulisic made some waves this week when he seemed to endorse the USMNT return of head coach Gregg Berhalter, calling actions taken against the former boss by Giovanni Reyna’s family “extremely childish” and “youth soccer.”

Below is our minute-by-minute analysis of Christian Pulisic after his display for Chelsea against Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Christian Pulisic Watch, live: Minute-by-minute focus on USMNT star vs Everton

3rd minute: Pulisic fizzes a cross toward goal but Kai Havertz can’t get his head on it as Chelsea has almost immediately claimed territory in the Everton end.

10th minute: A Reece James cross is just a bit too high for the Pulisic, as the diminutive leaper finds himself looking to make the most of dangerous service.

16th minute: Pulisic drops deep to get an incisive pass from Mateo Kovacic, turning and dribbling through the center to lay off to Ben Chilwell, but the move dies soon afterward.

26th minute: The American is cut down by Idrissa Gana Gueye in a nasty sliding challenge, and stays down for a minute as he helped Chelsea keep possession. Gana Gueye will get booked at the next whistle.

28th minute: Pulisic has the ball in a half-space and gets it to Joao Felix in the same spot, but the Atleti loanee’s bright dart into the box is cut out by the Toffees.

31st minute: The USMNT winger scoops a little pass into traffic that Havertz does well to get his foot to, but the flag is up.

35th minute: Pulisic is part of a tic-tac-toe break right to left that ends up with a Ben Chilwell cross over the field and without receiver.

36th minute: The American takes a Demarai Gray in the face (Rob Riggle voice) and needs some care from the trainers. It’s very surprising that he’s given the all-clear and how he looks the rest of the way will be under scrutiny.

45’+3: Pulisic lofts a cross toward the back post but it arrives a bit too quickly for two men screaming toward the target.

HALFTIME: The oft-fouled Pulisic is credited with a created chance, 27 touches, two passes into the final third, a block, and two recoveries. The stat sheet doesn’t show a full-merit Gray free kick to the Puli-face. The match is 0-0.

51st minute: Progresses the ball down the flank, followed by three Toffees. Drops the ball back Chilwell and the attack flips to the right side.

54th minute: GOAL, JOAO FELIX! Pulisic is running toward the far post to meet a Chilwell cross, but it’s blocked and winds up at the feet of Felix. A low drive through traffic kisses the far post and rolls over the line for 1-0.

56th minute: GOAL! But offside! Pulisic spins a tremendous shot past Jordan Pickford from distance, but Joao Felix was offside on the initial ball.

60th minute: Pulisic leaps but cannot control a wayward ball near the halfway line. Chelsea still leads 1-0 at the hour mark.

63rd minute: Subs off — That’s it for Pulisic. A very “off the ball” day for the American but Graham Potter will likely have noted that his runs created a lot of room including on Felix’s goal.

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Report: Christian Pulisic set to leave Chelsea this summer; Manchester United interested

By Joe Prince-WrightMar 7, 2023, 5:07 PM EST

USMNT star Christian Pulisic will leave Chelsea this summer, according to a recent report from ESPN, and more reports are starting to emerge.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

A new report from Football.London states that Manchester United — the Red Devils enquired about Pulisic in January — are interested in Pulisic once again and could move for him this summer when he will be available for a bit of a bargain.

The latest report also suggests a return to Borussia Dortmund and even a move to MLS (LAFC, Atlanta United and Inter Miami are named) is a possibility, as they say Pulisic’s future ‘hangs in the balance’ and a ‘Chelsea exit is likely’ this summer.

After missing the last few months with injury, Pulisic is back fit for Chelsea for their huge UEFA Champions League 16 clash against Dortmund.

Pulisic, 24, will have just one year remaining on his Chelsea contract at the end of the 2022-23 season and per the reports, the American winger will lead a ‘summer transfer exodus’ at Chelsea.

With 18 players arriving at Chelsea over the last two transfer windows under the new American ownership led by Todd Boehly, a huge number of players will have to leave to make that sustainable.

It is reported that Hakim Ziyech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic could also leave, while contract talks continue with Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante but they could also depart.

Per both reports, there are no plans for Chelsea to offer Pulisic a new contract and the USMNT winger was keen on a move in January (Newcastle were also reportedly interested) before he suffered a knee injury which will keep him out until March.

Why is this the end for him at Chelsea?

If he is to leave, he has to go somewhere he is going to play regularly. Pulisic has never been able to hold down a sustained starting spot at Chelsea despite some impressive spells.

Injuries have been a key reason why he has never flourished at Chelsea but three managers over the last four years hasn’t helped his case either.

The USMNT winger can do it at the Premier League and Champions League level and his time at Chelsea hasn’t been a failure, at all. But it hasn’t been what anyone hoped it would be. Pulisic has not become the superstar he was expected to become.

Where next for Pulisic?

Now he needs to find a club where he will be the superstar and the star man, instead of being at a club where he is one of many superstars.

That is a hard jump to make after being at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea during his career to date.

If Manchester United come in for him, should he move there? Probably not. He has to go somewhere he knows he is going to play week in, week out and be the man.

Whether that is a team battling for a top six finish in the Premier League or a team in Italy, Germany or Spain who are challenging for the title and trophies, he has to take the next step in his career and be the talisman at his next club.

Dortmund is an intriguing option given how much he enjoyed playing in Germany and the fact that Marco Reus is out of contract this summer means they will need a replacement attacker. Right now, the MLS option doesn’t seem likely for Pulisic but he has always talked about wanting to go back to the USA and you can see it happening after the next World Cup in 2026.

It was always risky to join Chelsea when he did but he won the Champions League and has played a key role in stretches throughout his time in west London. It didn’t quite work out and that’s okay. He’s not even close to his prime.

However, this next move has to be the right one and has to work out if he’s truly going to become the superstar every USMNT fan hopes he can be. He can be that star but know it is all about about putting himself in the best possible position to succeed.

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