Pulisic impresses Milan star: ‘He speaks Italian almost perfectly’

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Lorenzo Bettoni | Last updated Feb 20, 2026 9:20 AM ET

Milan star Rafael Leao is full of praise for USMNT star Christian Pulisic, on and off the pitch: ‘He understood the league fast. He speaks Italian almost perfectly.’

Milan star Leao praised his teammate Pulisic in his latest interview with CBS Sports.

What Leao said about Pulisic

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Now we know each other on the pitch. Unfortunately, this season we are having some injuries,” Leao said.

“We couldn’t link up on the pitch as we wanted, but he’s a good, good player. He’s helped Milan for the last two or three seasons. I expect a lot. When he plays, and I’m on the pitch, I’m like: ‘Yeah, Christian will do something.’

“When he arrived, he understood the league fast. He speaks Italian almost perfectly, even with an American accent.”

Pulisic is Milan’s best scorer this season, but hasn’t yet found the net in 2026, mostly because of fitness issues.

Leao on his Milan career and Diogo Jota

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Rafael Leao of AC Milan shoots as Wladimiro Falcone of US Lecce attempts to make a save during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The American star has been on and off the pitch due to bursitis in recent weeks, but still has 10 goals and two assists in 22 appearances this term.

During the same interview, Leao spoke about his Milan career and promised Portugal would try to make the late Diogo Jota ‘proud’ at the World Cup this summer.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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