Ex-Chelsea Star Told He Could Reach 'Another Level' by Joining Manchester United
Former Manchester United and United States goalkeeper Tim Howard has expressed his belief that ex-Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic could reach "another level" by returning to the Premier League with a club like Manchester United. Howard drew comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah, who flourished after leaving Chelsea for other leagues before becoming stars in England.
Pulisic's Journey from Chelsea to AC Milan
Christian Pulisic arrived at Chelsea in January 2019 with high expectations after a £58 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund, making him the most expensive American footballer in history at the time. While he won the Champions League with the Blues, Pulisic struggled with injuries and inconsistent form, eventually falling out of favor under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Since moving to AC Milan, Pulisic has revitalized his career, becoming one of Serie A's top attacking talents. This season, he has been instrumental for Milan, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in the league, with only Inter striker Lisandro Martinez outscoring him after 24 games. His impressive performances have reportedly attracted interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
Howard's Comparison to Premier League Greats
Tim Howard, speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, highlighted parallels between Pulisic's career path and those of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah. "I remember Kevin De Bruyne at Chelsea, I remember Mohamed Salah at Chelsea. They weren't good enough, apparently, so they went abroad," Howard said. "They gained confidence, they did all those things, they came back to the Premier League and then it was game over, history was written."
Howard believes Pulisic has matured similarly at AC Milan. "He's put AC Milan on his back and he's been the best player in that league so now I think, from the physical, football maturity-side, he now comes back to the Premier League, and he gets slotted into a Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, I think there's actually another level for him," he added.
Debate Over Pulisic's Next Move
When asked if Pulisic might be better suited to a mid-table Premier League team, Howard suggested it depends on the player's mentality. "If he's really saying, 'I've been to the Premier League, I've tasted what it's like at the top at a big club like Chelsea, I want more of that, I've got something to prove here'... I'd like to see him on these teams," Howard explained.
However, Howard's podcast co-host, Landon Donovan, expressed some reservations. While acknowledging Pulisic's talent and potential success at a big English club, Donovan cited concerns about the physical demands of the Premier League. "Christian is a phenomenal athlete but some of the athletes in the Premier League are monsters. And to do it 35, 40, 45 times a year at that pace is really hard," Donovan said, noting Pulisic's history of injury issues.
Potential Impact at Manchester United
Howard emphasized that if top clubs like Manchester United are willing to pay a significant fee for Pulisic, they likely have a clear plan for him. "These are well-grooved teams, they really are. They're well run, they're well-grooved, they're playing well," he said. "So if they're buying him and paying a decent fee for him then they have a plan for him."
Despite Donovan's physical concerns, Howard remains optimistic about Pulisic's ability to thrive in the Premier League. "I don't think you can turn that down personally," Howard concluded, referring to the opportunity to join a club like Manchester United.
