The 2025-26 season is about to begin for Christian Pulisic and Milan officially, and the mood at San Siro could not be more electric. On Sunday evening, the Rossoneri will take on Bari in the Coppa Italia preliminaries—a stage the club is not used to playing, but one it must clear after finishing last season in eighth place in Serie A. For Massimiliano Allegri, who has returned to the Milan dugout after more than a decade, this will be his first competitive fixture back at the helm. Yet he will not be on the touchline: the manager is suspended and will be watching from the stands.
Even so, the buzz is undeniable, with over 53,000 tickets already sold for the clash. Remarkably, this surge came despite the game not being part of the club’s season ticket package. But the question every fan is still whispering about is simple: Will Christian Pulisic play for the Rossoneri against Bari in the Coppa Italia?
The stadium atmosphere is already being compared to a league or European night. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan even had to open extra seating to cope with the demand, a sign of the excitement surrounding Allegri’s comeback.
This match, however, is about more than the coach. It’s about redemption. Last season’s failures are still raw: a tenth-year low finish in Serie A, coupled with a devastating defeat to Bologna in the Coppa Italia final, left the Rossoneri trophyless and out of European competition for the first time since 2019-20.
The new-look squad now boasts veterans like Luka Modric alongside rising stars, with the club determined to re-establish itself among Italy’s elite. That journey begins Sunday night—and all eyes are on the American winger who became Milan’s talisman last year.
Will Pulisic be there?
Christian Pulisic’s pre-season was cut short in Hong Kong when he suffered an ankle knock during a friendly against Liverpool. He subsequently missed further warm-up matches against Leeds United and Chelsea, fueling speculation about a potential extended absence.
For Milan supporters, the timing of the injury could not have been worse. After all, Pulisic has grown into a cornerstone of the team’s attack, forming a dangerous partnership with Rafael Leao and delivering decisive performances throughout the previous campaign. The fear of starting a high-stakes season without him left many uneasy.
The suspense, however, has finally lifted. As MilanNews reported, and as training ground images confirmed, Christian Pulisic has fully recovered from his ankle injury. He has completed back-to-back sessions with the rest of the squad, signaling that his recent absence was merely precautionary.
In the words of MilanNews: “The Rossoneri were taking no risks with one of their most important attacking pieces, especially for matches with no points on the line.” That caution now appears to have paid off. The Americans star will be available for Milan’s Coppa Italia clash against Bari, and it is expected that he will even start alongside Rafael Leao in attack.
