With transfer rumours rife and Italian football clubs assessing a number of talented individuals, it should serve as a reminder to fans that Italy’s teams cast their nets fairly wide when searching for potential acquisitions to make. While the United States of America’s infrastructure needs work, it’s a nation that has produced a number of players who have joined Italian clubs.
The home of sports like basketball and baseball, while also offering some of the greatest sporting events in the world, such as the Super Bowl which fans bet on after assessing the best Super Bowl odds, footballers from that particular part of the planet are always up against it. Sure, the MLS has some high-earning professionals and some well-followed clubs, but it’s a competition that is lagging behind major European leagues like Serie A.
A move to Italian football has, therefore, always appealed to American talent, with there being an opportunity to play for world-famous teams in a competition that is steeped in history. Known for its tactical sophistication and its competitive nature, let’s highlight some American talent who made the move to Italy, with many still playing in Serie A today.
Michael Bradley turned out for Chievo and Roma
Although Michael Bradley’s playing days are now firmly behind him, the American midfielder has an affinity with Italian football. Bradley started his professional career at MetroStars, before spending time in Dutch and German football. It was in Italy where he had arguably the best spell of his career, though, with both Chievo and Roma spotting his undoubted potential. While Bradley struggled to become a regular at Italian giants Roma, his performances at Chievo caught the eye. Bradley certainly had a remarkable journey in football and he’ll always be remembered as a consummate professional despite his lack of world-class ability.
Weston McKennie is now a key player for Juventus
An American footballer who is still playing today, it has taken a while for Weston McKennie to find his feet in Italian football, but he finally appears to be thriving at Juventus under their relatively new manager, Thiago Motta. After a somewhat disappointing loan spell in England with Leeds United, not many members of the Juventus family would have expected to see the American midfielder back playing for the club. However, the former FC Dallas academy star has proven his doubters wrong and is an integral part of Juventus’ squad this season.
Christian Pulisic is one of AC Milan’s best players
A player with a point to prove after a stop-start period of his career in England with Chelsea, Christian Pulisic appears to have put his English nightmare behind him to become one of AC Milan’s most important players. The tricky attacker has plenty of pace to burn for both club and country, with Pulisic being the current captain of the United States national team. At the time of writing, the former Borussia Dortmund man is the only player in Italy’s top flight to record at least 20 goals and 15 assists in all competitions since the start of the 2023-24 season. Both Pulisic and compatriot Yunus Musah are adored by the Milan faithful.
Timothy Weah has plenty of potential
(Image via https://x.com/franores)
While Timothy Weah is a bit raw at times, Juventus have a player with plenty of room to grow. The son of former FIFA World Player of the Year George Weah, the Bianconeri forward can play in a number of attacking areas and has a range of attributes to his game. From his explosive speed to his clear technical ability, Timothy Weah could be one to watch in the coming years.
