Category: Serie A

Pogba suspended after testing positive for testosterone

The Juventus midfielder could face a ban of up to four years

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for testosterone.

NADO Italia, the country’s anti-doping agency, announced on Monday that Pogba failed a random test following Juventus’s 3-0 win over Udinese on August 20.

“In acceptance of the instance proposed by the national anti-doping prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete Paul Labile Pogba,” a NADO Italia statement read.

The agency added that it found “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites” in Pogba’s test, a violation of anti-doping rules.

Pogba could be suspended between two and four years if found guilty.

Juventus confirmed the suspension in a statement, saying it “reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.”

The suspension is the latest blow in what has been a difficult return to Juventus for Pogba, who rejoined his former club on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

The 30-year-old’s first season was almost entirely ruined by injuries, which also forced him to miss the World Cup with France.

Pogba has made two appearances off the bench so far this season for Juventus. After an appearance against Empoli prior to the international break, Pogba felt pain in his back and his manager Max Allegri said he would have to undergo tests to determine the severity.

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McKennie: I’ve changed some minds at Juventus

The midfielder is back in the mix after reports this summer that he was set to be shipped out

Weston McKennie believes he has changed some minds at Juventus after reports this summer that he was no longer in the club’s plans.

The U.S. men’s national team midfielder was reportedly set to be excluded from the club’s preseason tour of the United States, but ended up making the trip and showed well, earning another chance with the Serie A giants.

McKennie has played in all three of Juventus’s league games thus far and started one, as he’s slotted in at an unfamiliar right wingback role.

Speaking to reporters at USMNT camp on Thursday, McKennie said he felt as though he started from scratch this summer after returning from a difficult loan spell at Leeds.

“Things happen so fast,” he said. “Things can change within a day, things can change within a week. For me, my biggest challenge to myself was just to take care of my body and come back to preseason prepared, and not give anyone anything to talk about or try and bring up about me.”

“Coming back [to Juventus] I felt like I started back at square zero,” McKennie continued. “But it was a challenge I think I needed at this time in my career. I still have to prove to people that I’m still the player that I am, the player that they know I can be. So going into preseason in America I just wanted to put on good performances, which I think I did. I think it helped change the minds of some people. So we’ll see where it goes from here.”

McKennie subbed into Juve’s first two games in place of his USMNT teammate Tim Weah, who has been the club’s starting right wingback in the early going. In the team’s third game, McKennie started at right wingback and was replaced by Weah.

McKennie, sitting next to Weah, pointed to his teammate for club and country and said: “You’re looking at starting right wingback and backup right wingback right now,” before touching on the pair’s differing roles for Juventus and the USMNT.

“Here I’m seen as a No. 8 and Timmy is seen as a winger and club team, [Weah is] right wingback and [I’m] right wingback-slash-midfielder,” McKennie said.

“With us being able to play so many different positions and being able to adapt to so many situations and roles, I think it’s a good quality to have. I don’t think that we really stress that much about it. We both love one thing that I know for sure, [that] is to win.”

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Pulisic named AC Milan player of the month for August

The USMNT star is having a major impact with his new club

Christian Pulisic has been named AC Milan’s player of the month for August.

The U.S. national team star has hit the ground running at San Siro following an offseason move from Chelsea.

Pulisic scored on his Milan debut against Bologna, netting a sensational goal from distance after a one-two with Olivier Giroud. He followed that up with another goal on his second Milan appearance, scoring on his home debut against Torino.

Pulisic nearly scored again in a win against Roma before the international break, with an outstanding save from Rui Patrício denying the USMNT winger his third goal in a row.

In addition to his individual success, Pulisic has also helped Milan win all three of its opening Serie A games, with the Rossoneri sitting in second place on goal difference behind city rivals Inter.

Following the International break, Pulisic is set to play in his first Milan derby as Milan and Inter meet on September 16 in a top-of-the-table clash.

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All hail the ‘USA! USA!’ AC Milan announcer losing his mind over Pulisic

This guy is really committed to the bit

Christian Pulisic is winning over a lot of AC Milan fans quickly, none quite as entertainingly as MilanTV announcer Mauro Suma.

Pulisic has scored in both of his first two Milan appearances, with each of his goals greeted by an incredibly enthusiastic rendition of “USA! USA! USA!” from Suma.

First there was Pulisic’s debut goal against Bologna, a stunner from distance. Then Pulisic scored again versus Torino, this time from a bit closer.

On both occasions Suma interrupts his flow in Italian to deliver his version of the ubiquitous chant heard at most international events involving an American team.

We are even willing to look past Suma’s usage of the “Captain America” moniker that Pulisic himself doesn’t love. When you are this committed to the bit, it’s hard to quibble with the odd detail here and there.

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Pulisic living large in Serie A, bags another goal for AC Milan

Pulisic is thriving with the Rossoneri

Life in Italy seems to be suiting Christian Pulisic to a tee.

The U.S. men’s national team star may or may not be enjoying the ossobucco and risotto alla Milanese, but he’s certainly thriving with AC Milan.

Pulisic made it two goals from two games in Serie A, starting and finishing an attack as the Rossoneri opened the scoring against Torino on Saturday. Milan would go on to post an emphatic 4-1 win.

The connection was a familiar one, as Pulisic pounced on a loose ball at midfield to spring a transition attack against a scrambling Torino. Pulisic found his former Chelsea teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek (who helped court the USMNT attacker this summer), who drove into the box before gently rolling the ball back across the box.

Olivier Giroud found the pass to be just out of reach, but Pulisic had kept his run going, finishing the play off with a tap-in.

Pulisic nearly added a second in the game’s final stages after being teed up by USMNT teammate Yunus Musah, who made his Milan debut as a 66th minute substitute.

This goal came less than a week after Pulisic’s first competitive goal in red and black, which was an absolute thunderbolt against Bologna. Starting nominally on the right side of Stefano Pioli’s front three, Pulisic has shown instant chemistry with Giroud (another former Blues teammate) and Portugal winger Rafael Leão.

Pioli praised Pulisic after the match, but chose to temper some expectations on the 24-year-old and on his team after an excellent start to the season.

“He is very intelligent,” Pioli said of Pulisic. “We all know what the football world is like, we need to be balanced in the positive and negative evaluations. I saw progress from the Bologna game, but also things we can do better, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

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Pulisic scores sensational goal on AC Milan debut

The USMNT star didn’t take long to make a big impact with his new club

Christian Pulisic marked his AC Milan debut with a bang, scoring a tremendous goal from distance in the first half against Bologna.

The U.S. national team star was in Milan’s lineup for its Serie A opener on Monday, and he didn’t take long to make an impact.

First, Pulisic played a lofted ball over Bologna’s defense for Tijjani Reijnders, who squared across the face of goal for Olivier Giroud to slam home the opener just 11 minutes in.

Ten minutes later, Pulisic and his old friend Giroud teamed up again for a goal. This time the American applied the finish, and it was a stunning way to get his account up and running in Italy.

Pulisic played a one-two with the Frenchman before unleashing a rocket from outside the box into the far corner.

With the goal, the 24-year-old became the first American to score in three of the “big five” European leagues, having now found the net in the Bundesliga, Premier League and Serie A.

Pulisic’s goal would end up being the final one of the game, with Milan holding on for a season-opening 2-0 win at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

“It was a fantastic start for sure,” Pulisic said after the game. “I’m really excited to be a part of this team. The two early goals really helped us because it was a difficult game after that. And for me just a great start personally as well, nice to get a goal.”

Watch Pulisic’s AC Milan debut goal

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Cade Cowell could be the next USMNT player in Serie A after reported Bologna offer

Is Cowell the next American heading to Serie A?

Are you even allowed to be on the U.S. men’s national team without a move to Serie A this year?

It feels like you at least deserve a credible rumor connecting you to an Italian club, and Cade Cowell isn’t going to be left out.

The Athletic and ESPN both reported that Bologna is eyeing up the young San Jose Earthquakes winger, whose role with the USMNT seems poised to grow after this summer’s Gold Cup.

The 19-year-old has been subject to European interest for some time now, and per the reports, the Earthquakes have had talks to some degree with multiple clubs. However, a bid from Bologna has gotten far enough that San Jose has a decision to make.

Further reporting from TuttoMercatoWeb claims that Bologna’s offer is roughly €4 million, plus a percentage of a potential future transfer away from the club. The Italian outlet says that the Quakes have set an asking price of €7 million.

Cowell, Bologna may be a good fit

Bologna is said to be on the verge of losing left winger Musa Barrow, who was first choice throughout the 2022-23 season. That’s a development that manager Thiago Motta is apparently fine with, but with Riccardo Orsolini also injured, the need for Cowell or some other winger appears to be fairly urgent.

In San Jose, meanwhile, the club may already be planning for the short-term without arguably the most prominent youth player to come up through their system. Before the MLS transfer deadline, the Quakes acquired forwards Ayo Akinola and Matthew Hoppe on loan.

If Cowell does end up with Bologna or elsewhere in Italy, he’d join a growing list of more established USMNT players making the move to Serie A. Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah have both joined AC Milan this summer, while Tim Weah transferred to Juventus. Weston McKennie seemed to be heading out, only for Juve to make a U-turn, with the midfielder seeming likely to stick around after all.

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Christian Pulisic bags first AC Milan goal in friendly vs. Monza

Pulisic is staying productive in Milan’s preseason

Christian Pulisic is already off the mark for AC Milan.

The U.S. men’s national team star followed up on a saved penalty kick to score as Milan eventually went on to defeat AC Monza in the inaugural Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi, a preseason friendly between the two clubs the late Italian Prime Minister once owned.

At Monza’s Stadio Brianteo, Pulisic played 79 minutes on the right wing for the Rossoneri, and played a crucial role in Milan’s only goal in what was a 1-1 draw in regulation. Milan would go on to win the match on penalties 6-5.

Pulisic has been influential with Milan already, notching two assists in his first preseason friendly appearance, and he appears to be very much a first-choice option for manager Stefano Pioli.

In the 28th minute of Tuesday’s friendly, Pulisic — pushing high and wide on the right flank — received a long ball that caught Monza out.

From there, the USMNT attacker cut inside, combining with two of his former Chelsea teammates who have set up shop in Serie A. First, Pulisic played a one-two with Ruben Loftus-Cheek (who says he helped persuade Pulisic to join him at the San Siro), and then he looked for a second combination with Olivier Giroud.

Before he could arrive and go to goal, though, Monza’s Danilo D’Ambrosio awkwardly swiped Pulisic’s legs out from under him, granting Milan a penalty.

Pulisic stepped up to take the spot kick himself, and while he couldn’t beat goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio with his shot, the rebound fell perfectly for the Hershey, Penn. native to touch home.

Pulisic’s teammate for club and country, Yunus Musah, was in uniform for Milan but ended up being an unused substitute.

Watch Pulisic’s first AC Milan goal

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Inter sporting director confirms interest in Balogun

Arsenal reportedly values Balogun at around €58 million

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has confirmed his club is interested in Folarin Balogun, adding that the Arsenal man isn’t the only striker on the club’s list.

“We are looking for someone who can score goals,” Ausilio told Sport Mediaset on Tuesday.

When asked about Balogun, Ausilio replied: “He is one of the opportunities, but not the only one we are tracking.”

One name Ausilio was ready to rule out is Romelu Lukaku, who played for Inter last season on loan from Chelsea. Inter was reportedly interested in bringing Lukaku back this season but ended its pursuit upon learning he had been in talks with rival Juventus.

“I’m not interested,” Ausilio said when quizzed on the Belgian.

Inter has been widely reported to have an interest in U.S. national team striker Balogun, who scored 21 Ligue 1 goals on loan at Reims last season.

Monaco is aiming to bring Balogun back to Ligue 1 this season, with Arsenal turning down a bid from the principality side this week, according to ESPN. The Gunners reportedly value Balogun at around €58 million.

Balogun has said if he leaves Arsenal, he would prefer a permanent move ahead of another loan. Despite his standout loan campaign last season, the 22-year-old appears to be behind Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah on the club’s striker depth chart.

The striker was not in the squad for Sunday’s Community Shield win over Manchester City as he continues to battle a foot injury.

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(US)AC Milan’s American collection grows with Musah signing

Musah joins Christian Pulisic at the San Siro

Yunus Musah has joined his international teammate Christian Pulisic at AC Milan, completing a reported €20 million transfer from Valencia.

Musah has signed a five-year contract at the Serie A club and will wear the No. 80 — reportedly a tribute to Brazil legend Ronaldinho, who wore the same number during his time with the Rossoneri.

The midfielder makes the move after spending four years at Valencia, where he became a regular starter for the club over the past two seasons.

The 20-year-old was widely expected to leave the La Liga side after the 2022-23 season, with interest from clubs around Europe, including the Premier League.

But Milan has won the race for Musah’s signature and the New York-born midfielder will reunite with Pulisic, who joined from from Chelsea in a €22 million transfer last month.

The move also establishes a rivalry between American teammates at two of Italy’s giants, with Tim Weah and Weston McKennie joining forces at Juventus this season.

Musah lived in Italy for several years during his childhood before moving to London at age nine. He came up through the Arsenal academy before transferring to Valencia in 2019.

At international level, the versatile midfielder was eligible for several teams, including the USA, Italy, Ghana and England, but he picked the U.S. in 2021. He’s gone on to earn 27 caps for the USMNT, starting all four of its World Cup games in Qatar last year.

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