Milan's attempt to tie Christian Pulisic down to a new long-term contract has stalled, with the American's camp yet to engage on the club's proposal, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Allegri built last season's attack around Pulisic (17 goals across all competitions), and now Massimiliano Allegri's successor has done the same on paper. When Ruben Amorim was introduced, the only outfield player he singled out by name alongside Luka Modric was Pulisic, and he was specific about the role: left attacking midfielder in the 3-4-2-1. That designation is part of the reason Rafael Leão's future has been left open. Losing Pulisic on a free in 2027 would blow a hole through the plan before it even starts.
The current deal runs to 2027 and contains a unilateral option that Milan can trigger to push it to 2028. According to CorSport, Gerry Cardinale would rather not use it. The RedBird owner wants to sit down with Pulisic's representatives and negotiate a fresh agreement through 2030, banking on the relationship rather than the legal clause. The problem is that the entourage has gone quiet. No counter, no opening, no signal either way.
Part of the hesitation on the player's side is timing. Pulisic hasn't scored since 28 December 2024; the home World Cup with the USA didn't go the way he wanted, and he is now dealing with an injury that could keep him out of the Serie A opener against Cremonese and stretch into the Torino window. He said as much himself after the national team's exit: "I'm disappointed. I felt really good this summer and thought I was in top form. I didn't have the moments I hoped to have."
For Amorim, the sporting cost is immediate. He was already going to be without his most important attacker for the opening weeks of a season where Milan have no European football and cannot afford a slow start. For Cardinale, the commercial angle is real too: an American owner with an American star selling the club in the US market is not a small piece of the RedBird pitch.
The gap here isn't about money yet, because talks haven't properly started. Pulisic's camp is waiting, and until they pick up the phone, Cardinale has a decision to make on whether to keep holding out for 2030 or protect the asset now by triggering the 2028 option.