One of Christian Pulisic’s closest teammates at both AC Milan and the U.S. Men’s National Team is preparing to leave Milan. But he won’t be going far. In a twist that adds a layer of intrigue to next season’s Serie A, the American midfielder is set to stay in Italy—and face off against his friend and international teammate as a league rival.
The player in question is Yunus Musah, and his time at San Siro appears to be nearing an end. After a year filled with inconsistency and missed opportunities, the 22-year-old midfielder has reportedly reached a full agreement with reigning Serie A champions Napoli, who are now finalizing a $28.5 million transfer deal with Milan.
“Total agreement is in place, with only the final details being ironed out,” reported MilanNews. it. The American has already settled “every detail” of his contract with Napoli, as confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Musah joined Milan from Valencia just last summer, but despite making 40 appearances across all competitions, he struggled to make a consistent impact. His versatility meant he was often used as a utility player rather than being given a fixed role in the squad. That, combined with a string of underwhelming performances, made him a target of criticism from both fans and pundits.
Conte’s longstanding interest
While many expected Musah to be pushed to the sidelines or moved abroad, Napoli manager Antonio Conte has long admired the American’s profile. According to Calciomercato.com, Conte first expressed interest last summer, but Milan was unwilling to let Musah go, hoping he’d develop further.
That development never truly materialized. Now, as the Italian boss looks to rebuild his squad following Napoli’s recent Scudetto triumph, Musah is seen as a key addition. With Frank Zambo Anguissa set to leave and Phillip Billing returning to Bournemouth after a loan, the midfield has holes to fill—and Conte believes Musah can thrive in the right system.
“Conte has the prowess to get the best out of players playing below their potential,” reported TMW, citing Scott McTominay’s breakout season at Napoli as a recent example. Musah, still only 22, could become Conte’s next success story.
Friendship meets competition
Musah’s impending move adds a fascinating dynamic to the Serie A narrative. Just two summers ago, he and Christian Pulisic arrived at Milan together, building a close friendship on and off the pitch.
“I’ve gotten to connect with Christian a lot over the past year, spending a lot of time with him this season on and off the field,” Musah said in a recent interview. “It’s been great to connect, because I didn’t get the chance to do it much today at camp, so it’s been nice to do that the whole year.”
Now, the two friends will find themselves on opposing sides of Italy’s top league—a rivalry that is sure to capture the attention of both Serie A fans and the American soccer audience.
