Despite proving their ability, players from the USMNT often find themselves overshadowed. Not for lack of skill, but because of the stereotypes surrounding American soccer- don’t you agree? “Talent knows no borders, yet bias draws invisible lines.” Take Christian Pulisic, for instance!

A player who has donned the jerseys of top clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and now AC Milan shed light on how skepticism looms over their abilities, making their battles tougher than those of their European counterparts.

Pulisic’s current stint at AC Milan tells a different story. With 20 appearances, he’s already bagged 8 goals and 6 assists, silencing critics and proving his worth in one of the world’s toughest leagues. European football doesn’t belong to a single nationality or group, yet the prejudice against USMNT players lingers. The skepticism, questioning, and doubts are hurdles players like Pulisic face, despite their undeniable talent.

In the Paramount Plus exclusive, an important subject was discussed with a few USWNT stars like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. Notably, Pulisic spoke realistically in terms of his experience, where he certainly feels like there is discrimination. “For sure, it’s out there.”

Also speaking about the starting eleven selections, he said, “It pisses me off in a way. If it comes down to me or someone else and it’s a 50-50 call from the coach on who will play, I think it exists.”

With each match, goal, and assist, Christian Pulisic seems to contribute more than just statistics to his record. If you remember, a few months ago in an interview with CBS Morning Pulisic expressed the same issue “I think people definitely look at me and say, ‘You know, he’s an American, I don’t want him taking my place here.”

The quiet judgment of being an outsider, the doubts about his right to compete, and the resistance from those who saw him as a threat illustrate the challenges he has faced. Christian Pulisic, the USMNT winger, has been one of AC Milan’s most promising signings in the past few years. He goes past opponents with ease, and Pulisic continues to shine for the Italian club. One can argue, he’s got the potential to become the USMNT’s greatest soccer player ever.

Yet, he thought he had seen it all until his move to AC Milan revealed an entirely new set of challenges. Curious about what he faced in Italy?

Christian Pulisic’s biggest challenge in Italy you didn’t know about

Zlatan Ibrahimovic once famously said “Who wouldn’t want to play for Milan? It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

So, did Pulisic imagine himself and decide to leave England and go straight into the hearts of Milan? However, it did come with challenges. Certainly, the language barrier troubled the USMNT star early on. Let’s be honest, it’s something every soccer player faces when they go to a new country!

Christian Pulisic’s move to AC Milan came with unexpected hurdles. Not speaking a word of Italian, he found himself lost during training as the coach’s instructions were delivered in a language he couldn’t understand.

“At the beginning of last season, I remember not speaking a word of Italian, going to the first training, and the coach yelling things in Italian, and I didn’t understand anything.” The language barrier was problematic, but Pulisic’s determination to adapt never wavered.

Christian Pulisic’s words highlight the ongoing challenges and discrimination the USMNT players face in Europe.