Christian Pulisic is no longer a focal point for the US or Milan – and that’s OK

The winger is 28, and younger teammates are rising into the high-pressure spots he has usually occupied Usually, the second weekend of October sees Christian Pulisic flanked by compatriots as the Star-Spangled Banner plays.

Last year, he was involved in US friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. But this year, with Fifa having folded the October window into September, Pulisic didn’t have the chance.

On Sunday, his prescribed pre-match music was O Generosa, the Serie A anthem, which he observed with a soft smile. Mark Twain’s first visit to Italy left him describing the country as “a vast museum of magnificence and misery,” and it’s a fitting summary of Pulisic’s three-plus years with Milan.