Milan’s vision for the future: Serie A giant’s president singles out Christian Pulisic as key pillar – But where do Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez stand?
Saturday’s match between Milan and Fiorentina was meant to be a chance for the Rossoneri to spark life back into their struggling campaign. Instead, the 2-2 draw only added to the growing sense of unease surrounding the club. But amid the disappointment and inconsistency, Christian Pulisic emerged once again as a shining light, delivering his 10th assist of the season and earning praise from the highest level of the club.
The game itself reflected Milan’s ‘Jekyll-and-Hyde’ season. Fiorentina raced to a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes, capitalizing on poor defending and sloppy passing—most notably from Yunus Musah, whose misplaced touch directly led to the opener. The American midfielder was substituted after just 24 minutes, marking the second time in a month that manager Sergio Conceicao has pulled him early in a match.
While one American struggled, another thrived. Pulisic‘s intelligent through ball to Tammy Abraham set up his side’s first goal and helped fuel their second-half resurgence. With just three wins in their last 10 matches, the Rossoneri desperately needed players to step up—and the 26-year-old star did.
What did Milan’s president say?
In the midst of this turbulent run, Milan president Paolo Scaroni offered an exclusive interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport, revealing his views on the team’s performance and future. “It has been a very difficult campaign for Milan,” Scaroni admitted, “despite our Supercoppa Italiana win. We are disappointed, but we are working to build a winning team.”
When asked which players the club planned to build around, the Italian did not hesitate: “When [Rafael] Leao lights up, he excites all the fans, including me. Then it’s always unpleasant to name names, but for consistency of performance, I’ll name two: [Christian] Pulisic and [Tijjani] Reijnders, who I think have won everyone over. It’s no coincidence that we want them with us for a long time.”
Subtle shift in priorities?
Scaroni’s words carry weight, and in a single sentence, he may have revealed the new core of Milan’s future. Despite having praised Rafael Leao, the star most expected to lead this new era, he didn’t mention him among the two main candidates. What’s more, Santiago Gimenez, the winter signing once seen as the missing piece up front, didn’t make the cut either.
Instead, Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders—two players without the flashy reputations of others—have become the club’s most reliable performers. Pulisic, whose arrival from Chelsea was met with skepticism, has delivered consistent attacking returns, leadership, and tenacity.
The Dutch star, meanwhile, has brought composure and clarity to Milan’s midfield, with his ability to dictate tempo and read the game proving crucial in high-pressure moments. The numbers tell their own story: between them, Pulisic and Reijnders have contributed to 29 goals and assists in 30 Serie A matches, averaging nearly one goal contribution per game.