Christian Pulisic is at a crossroads in his career after playing what is expected to be his final game for Chelsea on Sunday. The American, in typical style, ended as he has spent much of his career, a late substitute and second-string option.
His two-minute cameo at Stamford Bridge almost felt harsh to see. The player himself has been close to a move away from the club for over 12 months now and dragging his time out any longer benefits nobody. His reception from sections of an unforgiving and unimpressed Stamford Bridge crowd made this point better than any.
Whilst Pulisic is keen to forge a new path in his already impressive career, the Blues are headed in an opposite direction. There was no final farewell against Newcastle of the likes that Lampard himself, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Cesar Azpilicueta were granted, Pulisic was just part of a group that looks set to be disbanded this summer.
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Alongside Hakim Ziyech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy and many others, the time has come to call it a day on the Chelsea chapter of their careers. Unlike the others, who are all 28 or older, Pulisic still has time to write the bulk of his story.
As a promising teenager he has been on the scene for a long time without truly taking charge of club football for long enough to be taken deadly serious. His next move offers the chance to change that. At 24 he can yet become a star player, a pioneer and a gamechanger for a club competing in Europe. In what way he wants to do this is another question.
Pulisic offers the quality, skill, speed and experience for his age to drive a team forward both on the field and also commercially with his massive asset of being one of the most marketable players on the planet. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has already opened up this door with his statement of intent, saying that he wishes to add an American and Japanese star this summer.
The Italian champions are but one option for Pulisic. AC Milan are another and Newcastle complete a trio of sides all of whom have ambitions to make Pulisic a big name summer addition. It is the latter that perhaps have the best pitch for Pulisic. With the Premier League pull, financial power and chance to play serious first team minutes as well as be a cover star for the team, it is a move that makes sense.
Italy also has its attraction. It is a league that has blossomed this season, though still remains clouded with controversy and the next scandal may only be round the corner. Players have historically gone on to forge their way in Serie A despite mixed results in England. Olivier Giroud, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Romelu Lukaku, Edin Dzeko and Fikayo Tomori have had surges of life in the league after being let go.
The finances do pose a big question for Pulisic, though. It would be a step down for his wages and also leaves the overhanging conundrum of just what type of player he wants to be. A true driver of an emergent team or a star competing for the best honours there is.
It all comes together to make a big decision for Pulisic, one that has plenty of strands and open options.
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