Category: Americans Abroad

Adams admits he pushed himself too hard, provides injury return timeline

The USMNT star admitted he pushed himself too hard over the summer

Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is hopeful he’ll only miss three or four games after undergoing back surgery this month.

Adams dealt with back problems in the final months of the 2023-24 season, and those issues carried on through the Copa América with the U.S. men’s national team.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola confirmed this month that Adams had surgery immediately after the Copa.

“It is difficult to say how long [Adams will be out],” said the Cherries boss. “He won’t be fit for the start of the season. But September? October? I don’t know.”

In an appearance on The Cooligans podcast, Adams said he was hoping to be back on the earlier end of Iraola’s timeline.

“After Copa, I was still feeling a little something,” the 25-year-old said. “So I’m happy to have that dealt with. I’m going through a rehab process now. I won’t miss too much of the beginning part of the season. So hopefully four or five games, three or four maybe. And then hopefully I can just fly through the season and have some consistency.”

Bournemouth has three Premier League games before the first international window of the season in early September.

The USMNT has games against Canada on September 7 and against New Zealand three days later, with Adams likely to miss out.

The Cherries return from the FIFA break with a game against Chelsea on September 14, and will then face Liverpool on September 21.

Adams admits he pushes too hard

There were questions over whether Adams should have participated in the Copa América at all, given his back injury at the end of the Premier League season didn’t seem to have cleared up before the tournament.

Adams admitted he had some culpability in the situation, given his inability to take his foot off the gas.

“I think the biggest thing for me is, throughout the rehab process, throughout the way that I play in games, it’s only 100 percent for me,” Adams said. “Every single day in training, every single day in games. And I don’t have an ability to tune it down a notch.

“So sometimes I just need to realize I need to take a step back and just relax a little bit. I’m starting to learn that a little bit more and more. But yeah, I go 100 percent all the time. So yeah, that’s probably why I’ve been injured a little bit more recently.”

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AC Milan coach Fonseca says Pulisic can play as No. 10

The USMNT star should have more opportunities to play as a No. 10 this upcoming season

Even with a new coach, Christian Pulisic should have more opportunities to play as a No. 10 this upcoming season at AC Milan.

Pulisic had a sensational debut campaign with the Rossoneri last season, playing mostly as a right winger. But head coach Stefano Pioli would occasionally give the American chances to play as an attacking playmaker, which he used to great effect.

Pioli was dismissed at the end of the season, with Paulo Fonseca brought in from Lille to take over as head coach.

Speaking to the media in New York ahead of Milan’s preseason U.S. tour, Fonseca said that Pulisic would again have the chance to play in the middle in the 2024-25 campaign.

“I don’t know if in our structure we can speak about a No. 10, but [Pulisic] can play in that position,” Fonseca said. “We have other players who can play, [Ruben Loftus-Cheek] can play in that position.

“But yes, Christian has characteristics to play in this part of the pitch.”

The Portuguese boss was also full of praise for Pulisic’s debut campaign, which saw the U.S. men’s national team star score a career-best 15 goals in all competitions.

“It’s not easy for a foreigner to arrive in their first year and perform like Christian did because it’s difficult for a player like him to find space in Italy,” Fonseca said. “So if he did so well in the first year, I believe he can do better in the second year.”

Pulisic was given a 10-minute cameo on Saturday night as Milan defeated Manchester City 3-2 in a friendly at Yankee Stadium.

Milan will face Real Madrid in Chicago and Barcelona in Baltimore to close out its tour of America.

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Pulisic turns focus to AC Milan after Copa America disappointment with USMNT

The USMNT star is back with his club, which is ready for a three-game tour of the U.S.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – After a tumultuous summer with the U.S. men’s national team, Christian Pulisic is turning his focus to AC Milan.

Pulisic, the face of the national team program, is currently taking in preseason with AC Milan in the United States. The Serie A giants will play Manchester City on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, part of their three-game tour of the U.S.

AC Milan claims to be the most followed Italian club in the United States, with Pulisic and fellow USMNT star Yunus Musah both prominent parts of the first team. With a balanced and deep squad, there is optimism this year that the Rossoneri can bounce crosstown rival Inter from atop the Serie A standings.

This ambition comes as things with the national team remain a bit muddled.

Following a disappointing Copa América where the USMNT was bounced from the group stage, head coach Gregg Berhalter was fired. The federation has promised a thorough and comprehensive search, one that should see the next head coach guide the team through the 2026 World Cup.

“For us, of course, it was disappointing to exit as early as we did,” Pulisic said on Friday during a press event hosted by AC Milan to promote their tour.

“I have had a lot of time to think about it. For me, it was important to also take the time off and take some rest because it was a long season. And now my focus is here, 100 percent, to be honest. Obviously, some things will change with the national team and a new coach on the way or whatever. But I’ll worry about that in the international windows.

“I’m excited to be here, got some good rest. Really just ready to get started here. Obviously, we have a lot of games ahead this season.”

After a difficult end to his spell at Chelsea, Pulisic re-emerged as a top-tier talent on the club scene last season.

Pulisic scored 15 goals in 50 total appearances last year in an excellent debut campaign with Milan. The club finished second in the Serie A standings.

Coming off the struggles of the previous two years at Chelsea, where playing time and form were often strained, last year saw Pulisic reinvigorated with the Italian giants. It was a strong season that showed his technical quality in the final third in a league known for savvy and nuanced defending.

“When you join a big club there are always a lot of challenges. Coming here, not speaking the language, a new culture, a new country, it can be difficult,” Pulisic said.

“To be honest, some of these guys and just the club in general showed me the support and trust right from the beginning so they made the process very smooth for me. I was able to find a place just enjoying playing my football again. For me, that was the most important thing. I was happy to help the team and contribute and looking forward to an even better year.”

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USMNT left back Wiley joins Chelsea from Atlanta United

The 19-year-old is expected to join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan this season

Atlanta United has confirmed the transfer of left back Caleb Wiley to Premier League power Chelsea.

The Blues paid a reported £8.5 million ($11m) fee for the 19-year-old, who is expected to join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan for the upcoming season.

Wiley will join up with Chelsea following his participation in the Olympics with the United States.

“Caleb epitomizes the pathway that we envisioned when we started this club,” Atlanta United vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club release.

“Born and raised in Atlanta, he joined our Academy at 11 years old, played for ATL UTD 2 and went on to earn every step in his path up to signing as a Homegrown. Over that time, he debuted for the U.S. men’s national team and was chosen to represent our country at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Now he can continue his career at a top club in Europe. We wish Caleb the best in this next challenge of his career and look forward to following his journey.”

Wiley made his pro debut for Atlanta United 2 in 2020 when he was just 15 years old, and made the jump to the first team as a regular in 2022.

Overall, Wiley made 85 appearances for Atlanta’s first team in all competitions, recording six goals and nine assists.

Wiley has earned two caps for the USMNT so far, making his debut in April 2023. He has also represented the U.S. at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels.

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Cowell makes it three in a row with banger in Chivas victory

The 20-year-old is hitting his stride in his second tournament for the Liga MX club

Cade Cowell continues to level up in his second tournament with Chivas.

The American forward scored for the third straight game on Saturday, netting a sensational goal to give Chivas the lead in a 2-0 win over Mazatlán.

Cowell showcased a deadly combination of skill, composure and power, making a run into the box and juking past two defenders before burying a shot into the top corner.

After joining Chivas from the San Jose Earthquakes in January, Cowell scored one goal in the Clausura and three in the Concacaf Champions Cup for a respectable first campaign.

But with only four games down in the Apertura, the 20-year-old already has three goals and an assist for the Guadalajara club. Just as importantly, Cowell has started all four matches after making only seven league starts out of 17 in the Clausura.

After Saturday’s match, Cowell’s coach Fernando Gago was full of praise for a man who has been his side’s best attacking player early in the campaign.

“[Cowell] completed the preseason in a very good way,” Gago said in the post-game press conference. “The conditions he has, in one-on-one duels, are natural. From his speed, his power, understanding situations of when he has to attack and when not to.

“We are working on aspects so that he has more space to play and receive in certain circumstances. He is at a very good level and we will work to ensure that he continues to do so.”

Watch Cowell’s goal vs. Mazatlan

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Another injury blow for Adams: USMNT star out ‘months’ after back surgery

The hits just keep coming for Adams and the USMNT

The bad news just keeps coming for the U.S. men’s national team.

Tyler Adams will miss the start of the Premier League season, as Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said that the USMNT midfielder underwent back surgery.

A report from the BBC quoted Iraola as saying that Adams will be “out for some time.”

“It is difficult to say how long,” said the Cherries boss. “He won’t be fit for the start of the season. But September? October? I don’t know.”

According to Iraola, Adams played through back pain at the 2024 Copa América. During the final few weeks of the 2023-24 season, the New York native was barely available for Bournemouth with a back issue.

“He wanted to play Copa América because it was very important for him, but he had restrictions and was still in pain,” explained Iraola. “Two days after they were knocked out, he had surgery.”

Adams played only 45 minutes in the first two USMNT matches at Copa América, much to his chagrin. He played the full 90 minutes as the U.S. lost to Uruguay on July 2, ending the team’s run in the tournament in the group stage.

Latest injury blow for Adams

The potential for Adams spending months on the sideline is sadly familiar territory for the 25-year-old.

Between back and hamstring injuries, Adams appeared just five times for Bournemouth across all competitions in 2023-24, playing 138 minutes.

Adams had joined the Cherries last summer despite still being in the midst of recovering from a separate hamstring problem. His injury woes go back to March 2023, and have involved two surgeries on his hamstring before this latest procedure on his back.

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USMNT midfielder Tessmann’s move to Inter reportedly collapses

The Venezia midfielder won’t be heading to the San Siro after all

Tanner Tessmann’s transfer to Inter appears to be dead.

The Venezia midfielder has seen his transfer to the Serie A champion collapse, per a report in Tuttosport.

Various reports had suggested that a deal was imminent, but Tessmann’s salary demands, his agents’ fee demands, as well as a lack of an agreement on a loan destination have all reportedly contributed to the move falling apart.

Inter had planned on signing Tessmann and then loaning him abroad for a season. At a press conference on Friday, Venezia sporting director Filippo Antonelli said that the 22-year-old’s move was in danger of falling through due to difficulty nailing down a loan destination

“[The transfer] was closed with the club [Inter]. We wanted to keep the player on loan, but he wants to go elsewhere,” Antonelli said.

“Inter have been looking for a solution but they still haven’t identified which club he could join on loan. The deal may collapse because of this.”

Pro Soccer Wire reported last week that Everton and Feyenoord made last-ditch offers for the U.S. men’s national team midfielder, who has also generated interest from other teams in Italy.

“Torino didn’t call me personally,” Antonelli said. “Como did call me and Fiorentina made an inquiry. His agents say that there are many foreign clubs interested, but they haven’t yet called me.”

Playing alongside fellow American midfielder Gianluca Busio, Tessmann was vital for Venezia last season as the club secured promotion to Serie A by winning the Serie B promotion playoff.

Venezia has allowed both Busio and Tessmann to join up with the USMNT for the Olympics, which begin next week. Antonelli said that in contrast to Tessmann, he was expecting Busio to stay with the club .

“It is certainly a showcase for them,” Antonelli said of the Olympics. “We have taken a step towards the boys, who are very attached to the national team. We have granted this opportunity.

“Tessmann will most likely leave, Busio will most likely stay. He is attached to us, he will still be a protagonist, we think he can be very important. He has grown a lot, perhaps more than Tessmann, he is the one who has grown the most.”

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USMNT forward Cowell scores in second straight game for Chivas

The 20-year-old appears to be leveling up in his second tournament with Chivas

Cade Cowell continued his hot start to the Apertura on Tuesday, scoring in a 2-0 Chivas win at Querétaro.

It was the second straight game with a goal for Cowell, who has already surpassed his total of one goal in the Clausura.

The 20-year-old looks to be leveling up in his second tournament with Chivas, having scored an excellent solo goal last weekend in the club’s 4-2 defeat to Tijuana. He also added an assist in the loss at Xolos.

On Tuesday, Cowell got on the end of a cross from Javier “Chicharito” Hernández to put his side in front in the 21st minute. Chivas would later add another goal to secure its first win of the Apertura campaign.

Cowell joined Chivas in January from the San Jose Earthquakes, becoming the first active U.S. men’s national team player to represent the Guadalajara-based side.

In his first season with Chivas, Cowell scored one goal in the league while adding three more in Concacaf Champions Cup play.

The California native looks to be taking a more prominent role for Chivas in the Apertura, starting all three of his side’s games thus far after starting seven out of 17 in the Clausura.

Watch Cowell score vs. Queretaro

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Club America star Zendejas reportedly out six weeks with broken leg

The USMNT midfielder is set to miss the entire 2024 Leagues Cup

Alejandro Zendejas appears set for a spell on the sidelines, with the Club América midfielder reportedly suffering a broken leg that will keep him out up to six weeks.

Zendejas suffered the injury while attempting to make a tackle in América’s 3-1 victory over Querétaro on Friday.

The U.S. men’s national team midfielder was seen in a walking boot after the game, and TUDN has now reported that he will likely be out until September with a fracture in his left fibula.

That timeline would see Zendejas miss multiple Liga MX games, América’s friendlies in the United States against Aston Villa and Chelsea, as well as the entirety of the 2024 Leagues Cup.

América released a statement on Tuesday confirming Zendejas had suffered a “bone injury to his left fibula.” The club didn’t provide a timeline for his return, saying that he was undergoing a “conservative treatment” after consulting with a specialist.

At a press conference on Tuesday, head coach André Jardine said: “Very sad because he was having a great moment, perhaps one of the best of his career. The blow is a fissure, he has to be out of action for at least four weeks and will be back in four to six weeks. When the Leagues Cup ends and Liga MX returns, he will be available.”

Zendejas has been a vital player for América over the past few seasons, with Las Aguilas winning their second straight Liga MX title in May with a win over Cruz Azul in the Clausura final.

Despite his excellent form at the club level, Zendejas is still awaiting his first cap for the USMNT since the 2023 Gold Cup. Zendejas has seven total appearances for the USMNT, all of which came in 2023 after he committed to the program after previously representing Mexico.

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Source: Feyenoord and Everton make last-ditch effort to land USMNT midfielder Tessmann

The chase for the USMNT midfielder isn’t over yet

Tanner Tessmann’s presumed move to Inter may not be fully sealed after all.

A source close to the situation has told Pro Soccer Wire that the Venezia midfielder has recently seen offers come in from Premier League side Everton as well as Dutch power Feyenoord.

Inter still very well could land Tessmann, with reports this week indicating that a deal was close to being done. The Serie A champion would reportedly plan on signing Tessmann and then loaning him abroad for a season.

The source said that Inter remains heavily involved but that the landing spot for the U.S. men’s national team midfielder “is still open.”

Parma also remains in the mix to land Tessmann, a 22-year-old central midfielder who played 3,146 minutes (37 appearances) last year for Venezia in Serie B.

Tessmann tallied six goals and three assists in league play, adding a goal in the Serie B playoff semifinal that helped Venezia earn promotion to Italy’s top flight.

According to the source, Venezia is currently looking for a transfer fee between €7-8 million for the Alabama native.

Twice capped by the USMNT, Tessmann was announced this week as part of the roster for the Olympic team that will play in the Paris games starting this month.

At a Men In Blazers event in New York this week, Tessmann stayed mum when asked on stage about the rumors linking him to Inter.

“There’s no news that I can share today,” he said. “Just trying to focus on the Olympics, honestly.”

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