Tag: Serie A

Leao: I’d prefer Pulisic to play as a No. 10

The Portuguese star wants to see Pulisic a bit closer to him on the field

Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic formed a potent connection with AC Milan last season, but the former is now hoping to see the latter play a bit closer to him on the pitch.

Pulisic had a career-best campaign with Milan in 2023-24, scoring 15 total goals as he lined up on the right flank, while Leão posed a huge attacking threat on the left flank.

The American star would occasionally be given chances to play more centrally as an attacking playmaker, producing some strong displays in the middle as well.

Leão would like to see Pulisic get more chances to play in the middle in 2024-25.

“I knew the quality of Christian. When he arrived, I sent him a message and I told him, ‘Bro, let’s kill them,’ because I needed someone like him to bring something different on the pitch,” Leão told “Futbol Americas” on ESPN.

“I’m very happy to have him as a teammate, he’s a player who can change the game like this,” he added. “I’m happy with him and I expect him to do the same or better this season.”

The Portugal international added: “I’m not a coach, but I prefer Christian as a No. 10. In the middle he has space to go to the left or the right and he shoots very well.

“I think Christian can be very dangerous as a No. 10, but I think he fits well in our team as a 10 or on the right. As a 10 he can give me assists, we can do one-twos in the middle of the pitch … he can do whatever.”

Leão could get his wish in the upcoming campaign, as new Milan coach Paulo Fonseca has said Pulisic is an option for him centrally.

Watch Leão discuss Pulisic

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Real Madrid vs. AC Milan: How to watch friendly, live stream

The Blancos kick off their preseason tour of the U.S. in Chicago

Real Madrid will face AC Milan on Wednesday in a high-profile friendly at Soldier Field in Chicago.

For Madrid, this will be the first of a three-game tour of the United States. After the match against Milan, the Blancos will face Barcelona in New Jersey on Saturday, and will complete its tour with a game against Chelsea in Charlotte on August 6.

One marquee name who won’t be participating is new signing Kylian Mbappé, who is skipping the U.S. tour as he continues to recover after Euro 2024.

The France star’s Madrid debut will likely be on August 14 in the European Super Cup against Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Real Madrid vs. AC Milan on ESPN+” link=”https://go.web.plus.espn.com/Y9KaQm”]

Milan kicked off its U.S. tour with a 3-2 win over Manchester City at Yankee Stadium over the weekend. The Rossoneri will close our their tour on August 6 against Barcelona in Baltimore.

Fans in Chicago should get a glimpse of U.S. national team pair Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic, who made late cameos against Man City as they continued ramping up their fitness following the Copa América.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the game.

Real Madrid vs. AC Milan (friendly)

  • When: Wednesday, July 31
  • Where: Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: ESPN+ (WATCH LIVE)

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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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Manchester City vs. AC Milan: How to watch friendly, TV channel, live stream

The European giants will meet at Yankee Stadium in New York

Manchester City will face AC Milan on Saturday in a high-profile friendly at Yankee Stadium in New York.

City will play at the home of sister club New York City FC, part of the City Football Group.

Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to make things right after losing 4-3 to Celtic in a friendly in North Carolina on Tuesday. After facing Milan, City will have two more tough matchups in the U.S. as it faces Barcelona in Orlando and Chelsea in Columbus.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Man City vs. AC Milan on ESPN+” link=”https://go.web.plus.espn.com/Y9KaQm”]

For AC Milan, this will be the first match of a three-game U.S. tour ahead of the 2024-25 season.

All eyes will be on the club’s American stars Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, who will look to put in strong displays in their home country.

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

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the game.

Manchester City vs. AC Milan (friendly)

  • When: Saturday, July 27
  • Where: Yankee Stadium (New York, NY)
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: ESPN, ESPN+ (WATCH LIVE)

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CBS Sports retains Serie A rights on two-year deal

The network will continue to be the home of the Italian top flight in the U.S.

CBS Sports will continue to be the home of Serie A in the United States, as the network has signed a two-year renewal of its media rights agreement with the Italian top flight.

Serie A and CBS signed their first deal in 2021, which expired at the end of the 2023-24 season.

With just a month until the 2024-25 campaign kicks off, the two parties have reached another agreement to extend their partnership for two more seasons.

“We are pleased to renew our partnership with Serie A,” said Dan Weinberg, executive vice president of programming for CBS Sports.

“CBS Sports has helped to elevate the popularity of Serie A in the U.S. over the last three years and the increased distribution will continue to grow the American fanbase.”

As part of the agreement, Paramount+ will show all 380 Serie A matches, at least 25 Coppa Italia matches and all Supercoppa Italiana matches for the upcoming season.

Select matches will also air on CBS, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

The announcement came just one day after CBS Sports and the English Football League (EFL) announced an agreement that will see the network become the new home of the Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao Cup and Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

CBS Sports is already the home of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and the NWSL, among other properties.

Securing the rights for Serie A was a key priority for CBS, as the league is home to some of American soccer’s biggest stars including Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Tim Weah and Weston McKennie.

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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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Juventus really wanted Weston McKennie gone last summer. History may be repeating itself.

The USMNT midfielder was forced to change with academy players, among other indignities

Weston McKennie has opened up on his outcast status at Juventus last summer, revealing details on how the club ostracized him following his return from his loan at Leeds.

The U.S. national team midfielder had a rough spell at Elland Road in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign, returning to Turin last summer as an outcast.

Though Juventus initially wanted to offload McKennie, the midfielder instead worked his way back into now-former manager Max Allegri’s plans and became an ever-present for the Bianconeri in the 2023-24 campaign.

In an interview with The Athletic, McKennie said he couldn’t help but feel annoyed at the treatment from Juventus last summer.

“I knew it was going to be (challenging). I didn’t know it was going to be to that extent; where I didn’t have my locker, I didn’t have a room in the hotel, I didn’t have a parking space,” McKennie said, echoing comments from his USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter in March.

“I changed in the locker rooms with the academy kids, even when you had players in the main locker room who had never played a game for Juventus because they’d always been out on loan. And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I’ve only been gone for six months. I come back and I am treated like this.’

“I couldn’t even get my shirt number (14), even though nobody else had taken the number. I was like, ‘OK you guys want to treat me like this? I’m just going to show you on the field.'”

Motta prepared to sell McKennie

Though McKennie proved to be one of Juve’s most effective players last season, it appears the club is once again prepared to offload him this summer.

The 25-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the upcoming season, with talks over an extension seemingly at a dead end. McKennie was rumored to be nearing a move to Aston Villa as part of a swap deal, but that transfer now appears to be off due to McKennie’s failure to reach an agreement with the Premier League side.

That leaves McKennie in a difficult spot at Juve, whose new manager Thiago Motta has reportedly decided the American isn’t in his plans.

Tuttosport claims Motta is entering his first season in charge without McKennie in mind, which could mean the midfielder will be heading for another new club — whether it’s Villa or not.

At least for McKennie, being forced to prove himself all over again would be nothing new.

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USMNT Olympic prospect Tessmann reportedly close to Inter transfer

Tessmann could be on the brink of a huge transfer, with the Serie A champions talking to Venezia about a move

U.S. Olympic hopeful Tanner Tessmann may be on the brink of a massive summer transfer.

Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Serie A champions Inter have started transfer talks with Venezia over the 22-year-old.

Tessmann was virtually ever-present for the Venice-based club as it clinched promotion from Serie B this season, playing alongside fellow U.S. under-23 midfielder Gianluca Busio.

The Texas native scored seven times for Venezia, including a spectacular long-range strike against Palermo during the promotion playoffs.

Per the report, Inter and Venezia met on Wednesday, with discussions moving towards the Nerazzuri acquiring Tessmann and then loaning him back to the Venetians for the 2024-25 season.

Tessmann’s performance didn’t just catch Inter’s eye. Rumors have connected Bologna and Torino to interest in signing the box-to-box midfielder, while Venezia was said to be ready to offer a contract extension.

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Serie A 2023-24 top scorers: Tracking the Italian goalscoring race

Tracking all of the top scorers in Serie A during the 2023-24 season

The battle to be Serie A’s top scorer for 2023-24 is over, with Inter’s Lautaro Martínez easily winning the Capocannoniere.

The Argentina star topped the list with 24 goals, finishing well ahead of the pack.

Here are the final standings of the top scorers in the Serie A for the 2023-24 season.