Why isn’t Christian Pulisic playing for Milan against Chelsea in 2026 club friendly?

A heavy shadow falls over Jakarta as Christian Pulisic is officially ruled out of a monumental clash against his former comrades at Chelsea. The American talisman was destined to stand at the epicenter of this emotionally charged preseason reunion, yet his absence has left fans wondering why he will miss the clash.

Milan will face Chelsea on Saturday at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, with the fixture serving as one of the final tests before the new season. The Italian club arrives after a 1-1 draw with Inter, while the Blues are looking to respond after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Juventus.

The match was always expected to carry extra significance because of the number of players with connections to the London club. Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christopher Nkunku could all feature for the Rossoneri against their former side, while Pulisic would have been another obvious storyline had he been available.

The 27-year-old American forward spent four seasons at Chelsea before moving to San Siro in 2023, establishing himself as one of the Italian club’s most important attacking players. His absence therefore leaves Milan without a player who could have provided both quality on the wing and plenty of personal motivation against his former employer.

The reason behind Pulisic’s absence

The reason Pulisic will miss the friendly is an injury suffered during the United States’ 2026 World Cup campaign. The American winger was hurt during the United States’ Round of 16 meeting with Belgium after attempting a shot and colliding with Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans.

According to reports from The Athletic, medical examinations subsequently revealed a bone bruise and microfracture around the tibia-fibula area of Pulisic’s right leg. The winger initially attempted to continue after the collision, but the discomfort eventually forced him out of the match. The injury ended his World Cup campaign and meant that his return to Milan preparations needed to be handled carefully rather than rushed.

Instead of joining the squad for the preseason tour of Australia, Indonesia and Poland, Pulisic remained at Milanello to continue his rehabilitation. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that the club’s priority has been to avoid increasing the player’s workload too quickly after his injury.

The decision means he has missed the opportunity to face Inter and Chelsea during the overseas tour, but it could prove important in preventing the setback from becoming a longer-term problem. Pulisic returned to Milanello on July 30 after receiving additional time away following the World Cup and underwent medical checks before beginning individual training.

Pulisic’s recovery timeline offers Milan encouragement

Although the initial description of the injury understandably raised concerns, there has been some encouraging news surrounding Pulisic’s recovery. The expectation is that he will need weeks rather than months to recover, giving the club hope that he can return relatively early in the Serie A campaign.

The Rossoneri have therefore avoided taking unnecessary risks during preseason. A friendly against Chelsea can offer valuable preparation, but Ruben Amorim has little reason to gamble with one of his most important players when the competitive season is approaching.

Pulisic is currently targeting a return around the beginning of the new Serie A season, with Milan scheduled to face Torino on August 23. If his rehabilitation continues without complications, the American could have a realistic chance of being available for that fixture or returning shortly afterward.