Why Christian Pulisic might be a good fit for Juventus.

Given how unstable the job of Juventus’s sports director is, it’s a waste of time to make any predictions about transfers. I’m a fool, so I don’t mind running errands at all, which is good for you.

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Recent reports say that the Old Lady might be interested in Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic. I’m here to tell you something that will probably make you mad: this possible move kind of makes sense.

Don’t get mad; just hear me out.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Pulisic can play on the left or as a central forward. In the latter role, he’s better than Federico Chiesa and could have a bright future. I also think he could do well in a 3-5-2 with a striker. I guess if Max Allegri is still playing next season, we could also see him at wingback. He played some fullback at Chelsea, which is pretty funny.

Pulisic is a bright player with a chip on his shoulder, but he’s not one of the best wingers in the world. He moves quickly, can dribble past his opponent, and is also fast, which is something Juventus could use more of.

All of that might not be good for his job, but you can count on one thing about the American: he’s got grinta. He will never try to get out of his defending duties. He is the kind of player who leaves his heart on the field. I don’t know about you, but that seems to be getting harder and harder to find, and it will help Juventus next year.

Not only does Pulisic have a lot of grit, especially when playing for the US, but he will also be out to show he can play for a top club after what could be called a “failed” or at least “not particularly successful” time at Chelsea. This kid is 24! Whoever gets him will get a very, very driven player.

Unlocking his fellow countryman

The loanee return situation is going to be a long and complicated story in its own right. Like this and all other transfer rumors, it will develop (hopefully not “unravel”) in the coming weeks and months, but one thing is probably certain: at least one loanee, and possibly more than one, will stay in Turin. If that turns out to be Weston McKennie, then it makes even more sense for Pulisic to go after him.

Here’s what we know: McKennie and Pulisic are both 24, they’re both Americans, they’re friends, and they’ve probably both played their best football for their country. I think putting them on the same team would not only make them both happier, but also make them more competitive.

Even so, McKennie did not really stand out during his time here or at Leeds, and it seems likely that the club will try to find a different way to use the player. But if a few things go right, this could be true.

The warning sign

One thing about Pulisic, though, could make all of the above irrelevant: the American is prone to getting hurt. Even though he hasn’t had too many big injuries, he’s had a lot of little ones. He’s played at least 20 games in the Premier League and Bundesliga every season since 2015-16, but he’s only played more than 30 once (in 2017-18) and more than 25 three times in the last seven years, with the most recent being 2020-21.

I can see why people don’t want Pulisic, but given how things are financially, Juventus needs to take some chances on “discount” deals. The kid is good, and he’ll be able to show those who question him wrong. Since the 2026 World Cup will be held mostly in the United States, the Pennsylvanian will be very focused on winning and playing well.

With the post of sporting director up in the air (and, it seems, the coaching situation as well), rumors like this will come and go as quickly as the early spring wildflowers in the foothills of Boise bloom and die. But whether Juventus actually goes after Pulisic or not, and whether this rumor dies in 24 hours or six weeks, I’m sure this is the type of player the club will need to go after to fill several holes, and I can promise you that there will be a lot worse names thrown around in the next few months.

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