Christian Pulisic's AC Milan targeting new boss after disastrous Serie A season
U.S. Men's National Team captain Christian Pulisic may find himself under the leadership of a new head coach next season with AC Milan said to be targeting Massimiliano Allegri to replace Sergio Conceicao
The dust may be yet to settle on what Christian Pulisic felt was AC Milan’s ‘best match under Sergio Conceicao,’ with the Rossoneri having beaten Udinese 4-0 on Friday, but this hasn’t prevented yet more pressure being piled onto the Portuguese head coach.
Having taken over in December following Paulo Fonseca’s brief stint in charge with Milan eighth in Serie A, Conceicao has struggled to turn around their fortunes, with his side currently languishing in ninth in the league, eight points behind Juventus in the final UEFA Champions League qualifying spot. To date, he has guided his side to a 7-3-5 record in Serie A, and an 11-5-7 record across all competitions, including their Supercoppa Italiana title win in January and their Champions League exit in February.
As such, the Rossoneri are said to be targeting Igli Tare as their new sporting director in the summer, a role he previously held at Lazio, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. The former Albania international would then look to replace Conceicao with Massimiliano Allegri, who coached Milan from 2010 until 2014, winning the league title and the Supercoppa Italiana once a piece before his ultra-successful tenure in charge of Juventus.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Serie A, Juventus and U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Weston McKennie has been identified as one of 11 players being investigated by Italian authorities regarding alleged involvement in an online betting scandal.
Allegri is currently without a role, having left Juventus for a second time in May 2024 following his controversial actions during their Supercoppa Italiana final win against Atalanta, during which he was sent off.
But whether or not Allegri is ultimately brought in, Conceicao will still likely be let go, regardless of what happens during the remaining month of the season. And it isn’t just the head coach at risk, with multiple players also having been linked with a summer exit, with the Rossoneri likely needing to cut costs with European soccer unlikely next season.
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Among those potentially heading elsewhere is Pulisic’s USMNT colleague Yunus Musah, who Gazetta dello Sport suggested could be one of six players let go. Musah has endured another mixed season in Milan, having joined in the summer of 2023 from Valencia.
The midfielder has struggled to hold down a spot in the starting lineup for a second straight season, failing to score and providing just two assists in 36 games. In fact, his Milan tenure hit a new low in their recent 2-2 draw with Fiorentina, being substituted off after just 23 minutes. He then remained on the bench throughout their subsequent win against Udinese.
As for Pulisic, his Milan future is likely as safe as it gets, given that he currently leads Serie A in assists and his team in goals. The 26-year-old has recently been linked with a new deal, with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2027, via ESPN.