Christian Pulisic Misses Derby della Madonnina Due to Injury
Christian Pulisic will not participate in AC Milan's upcoming friendly match against Inter, marking the first-ever Derby della Madonnina held in Australia. The match is scheduled for August 5, 2026, at Optus Stadium in Perth, as both teams prepare for the new Serie A season.
Pulisic is recovering from an injury sustained during the United States' Round of 16 match against Belgium in the 2026 World Cup. He suffered a bone bruise and a microfracture in his right leg after a collision with a Belgian player. Although the injury is serious, medical staff believe he will need weeks to recover, allowing for a potential return early in the Serie A season.
AC Milan is managing Pulisic's rehabilitation carefully, prioritizing his full recovery before increasing his training intensity. He has returned to Milanello for individual training and is expected to miss the Australian tour, which includes matches against Chelsea and Manchester United, but there is optimism he could be fit for Milan's Serie A opener against Torino on August 23.
