Christian Pulisic’s return to prominence is becoming a central issue in Milan’s early-season direction. After watching the opening three Serie A rounds from the sidelines, the American has offered encouraging cameos and now faces the prospect of a larger role as Lecce arrive on the calendar.
Milan’s No. 11 remains the side’s most established attacking reference between the lines when fit. Cisse is still regarded as a player for the future, Rabiot has been adapted to a different role, and Hutchinson remains a loan signing still to be fully assessed. Pulisic, by contrast, brings proven quality in the final third: a player capable of escaping pressure in tight spaces and reaching shooting positions quickly.
Milan weigh fitness against the need for their best players
Ruben Amorim had explained Pulisic’s absence from the first three league matches as an athletic and physical matter. The player endured a difficult summer after suffering a microfracture during the World Cup in July, an injury which kept him out for more than a month.
He is not yet expected to be ready for a complete 90-minute performance, but the question inside the club is whether Milan can continue to reserve their strongest attacking players for substitute appearances. Gerry Cardinale is understood to expect a more direct use of the squad’s leading figures, rather than a broad distribution of minutes that has characterised the early part of Amorim’s tenure.
Pulisic has not started a Milan match since 26 April, against Juventus. By then, the Rossoneri had already begun the slide that ended with a damaging final day of the previous league season. His recent substitute displays have nevertheless suggested that his ability remains intact, provided his body can sustain a more regular workload.
A difficult 2026 still without a competitive goal
The current year has been an unforgiving one for Pulisic. A sequence of fitness problems was followed by the United States’ home World Cup disappointment, with Belgium ending their campaign in the round of 16. The subsequent injury lay-off further interrupted his rhythm.
He has yet to score in a competitive fixture in 2026, neither for Milan nor for the national team. His only goal of the year came in a friendly against Senegal at the end of May.
Those circumstances have added to an unsettled period at Milan, where uncertainty over Cardinale’s plans for the club’s new cycle has coincided with an unresolved contract situation. Pulisic’s current deal runs until 2027, although Milan hold an option to extend it through 2028. Such clauses are difficult to activate without agreement from both the club and player, making renewed talks increasingly important as the season progresses.
Lecce offer a familiar target
The next league meeting carries a favourable personal history for Pulisic. Lecce are his most productive Serie A opponent: he has scored five goals in five matches against the Apulian club.
For Milan, it is an opportunity to reconnect a talented player with a starting role. Pulisic’s fitness still requires management, but the need for greater attacking authority is clear. A season that has brought injury, disappointment and contractual uncertainty could begin to change with a more substantial contribution from the player who has long been among Milan’s most dependable creators.
