Why are Christian Pulisic and Luka Modric not starting for AC Milan in 26-27 Serie A debut vs Torino?

AC Milan are making their 2026-27 Serie A season debut in a road match against Torino on Sunday, August 23, at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. As the starting lineups were unveiled, the absence of USMNT star Christian Pulisic and Croatian icon Luka Modric from the XI raised plenty of eyebrows.

Christian Pulisic will begin the match against Torino on the substitute bench as part of a fitness-management decision by head coach Ruben Amorim. The USMNT forward is still working his way back from a severe injury sustained during the World Cup, where he suffered a microfracture and bone edema in the tibia and fibula of his right leg.

Pulisic only returned to full team training sessions two days prior to the Torino match. Given that short ramp-up window, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alphadjo Cisse will start in the dual No. 10 roles, though the American star traveled with the squad and could feature as a second-half substitute.

Meanwhile, Luka Modric starts on the bench due to a purely tactical choice by Amorim. Throughout recent preseason friendlies, the Portuguese manager favored Ardon Jashari in the double pivot alongside Yunus Musah, with the Swiss midfielder getting the nod on opening day over the veteran Croatian, who will await his opportunity off the bench.

Numerous huge absences in Milan

Modric and Pulisic remain the two highest-profile names starting on AC Milan’s substitute bench. However, a significant group of key players who have previously featured as core figures for the Rossoneri were omitted from the squad entirely.

The players completely left off the team sheet for the opener against Torino are Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, and Rafael Leao. All four stars are currently on the transfer block evaluating incoming offers, leading Amorim to hold them out of the squad while their departures are finalized.

Torino and AC Milan’s confirmed lineups

Torino’s confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1): Diego Mascardi; Pietro Comuzzo, Ardian Ismajli, Saul Coco; Marcus Pedersen, Gvidas Gineitis, Kian Fitz-Jim, Alessio Cacciamani; Cesare Casadei, Nikola Vlasic; Giovanni Simeone.
Head coach: Ignazio Abate

AC Milan’s confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1): Mike Maignan; Mario Gila, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic; Samuel Chukwueze, Yunus Musah, Ardon Jashari, Pervis Estupiñan; Alphadjo Cisse, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Goncalo Ramos.
Head coach: Ruben Amorim.