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Christian Pulisic has been urged to treat his current situation at AC Milan as an opportunity to showcase his talent to potential suitors, with former United States international Kasey Keller sharing his thoughts on the forward’s contract impasse during an interview with GOAL. For now, the man affectionately called ‘Captain America’ is relishing the “relief factor” of representing his nation at a home World Cup, having made a dream start to the tournament.

Pulisic is managing a minor injury concern following the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay, which raised some doubts about his availability for upcoming matches. However, he has participated in training sessions, and a team spokesperson has described his status as “day to day.”

Given his status as a key player, Pulisic will be handled carefully. His record-breaking display at SoFi Stadium helped secure three crucial points, giving coach Mauricio Pochettino the flexibility to rotate his line-up ahead of the next fixture against Australia in Seattle.

Supporters and Pochettino alike are eager to see Pulisic feature at Lumen Field, while the player himself has plenty to prove. Confident in leading his country on the international stage, he may also be reflecting on his club future amid uncertainty in Italy.

Pulisic’s current contract with AC Milan runs until the summer of 2027, but negotiations for an extension have yet to yield progress. This has inevitably fuelled speculation about a potential move, with suggestions of a return to the Premier League among the possibilities for the former Chelsea Champions League winner.

With Ruben Amorim taking over as head coach following Massimiliano Allegri’s departure, another period of change is underway at San Siro. Yet, there is still no definite indication that Pulisic will leave Milan this summer.

When asked if Pulisic’s performances at the World Cup could attract transfer interest, Keller responded: “Yes, but I think after the difficulties he had at Chelsea, there’s something to be said for being somewhere you’re comfortable, successful, and established – and that happens to be AC Milan.”

He continued: “We all know it’s not the AC Milan of the 90s, but it’s still one of the biggest clubs in the world. To just say, ‘I’m in the shop window, now I’ll move somewhere else and basically have to start over again,’ isn’t always the best option.”

“I loved the challenge of going to new clubs and leagues, proving myself, experiencing different things, so whatever works best for the player is what matters. If Christian says, ‘I’d like another go in England or maybe Spain,’ then great. But equally, if staying put at a top club feels right, that’s perfectly valid too.”

Pulisic impressed in the win over Paraguay, regularly troubling defenders down the left wing and providing a well-crafted assist for Folarin Balogun. Despite entering the tournament after a lean spell in Italy – having not scored for Milan in 2026 – a goal against Senegal in a warm-up friendly appeared to reignite his confidence. The 27-year-old looked sharp and motivated before being substituted at half-time.

Asked whether Pulisic played with a point to prove, Keller replied: “Absolutely. He started the season brilliantly, dipped in form later, then recovered towards the end, scoring and assisting in a friendly before the tournament. We spoke before it began about whether that goal would serve as a relief factor for him – and it clearly did. His first-half performance was outstanding, effectively putting the contest out of reach.”

He added: “Before the tournament, we said the key players had to step up, everyone needed to play their roles, and any surprise contributions would be a bonus. That’s exactly what we saw in the opening match.”

The United States will face Australia next on Friday as they aim to secure a place in the last-32, which would allow for rotation in their final group game against Turkiye. Pulisic remains central to the team’s ambitions of progressing deep into FIFA’s marquee competition – and his performances are sure to draw attention from clubs seeking attacking reinforcements during the 2026 summer transfer window.