- Former USMNT defender highlights Musah’s stalled development
- Stresses need for summer transfer to revitalize midfielder’s career
- Lalas also touched upon Turner, Tillman, and Tim Weah’s moves
U.S. soccer icon Alexi Lalas believes AC Milan‘s Yunus Musah needs a transfer this summer to have a shot at making the 2026 USMNT World Cup squad. He noted that Musah’s development has stalled since joining the Rossoneri where he’s made limited starts over two seasons. Lalas expressed hope that a move would help the 22-year-old rebuild his confidence.
“The curious case of Yunus Musah,” Lalas said on his State of Union podcast. “I remember years ago when he burst on the scene and we extrapolated it out. This is what he is now…So, hopefully if whatever move ends up happening here, he gets to a place where he’s playing. We still don’t know the circumstances from this summer, but whatever he was dealing with, I hope that he has dealt with it, and I hope that he can concentrate and get back on the field in a consistent way.
“Because I do think if he does, he’s going to pose some questions for good questions for [Mauricio] Pochettino going forward because he’s still an undeniable talent. But you know, it’s faltered over the last year.”
Lalas also addressed the potential implications of Malik Tillman’s permanent transfer to Bayer Leverkusen this summer against the backdrop of the upcoming World Cup. He emphasized the unprecedented opportunity of competing in a home World Cup while acknowledging that players must balance immediate international prospects with long-term career advancement.
“The risk for players now a less than a year before a World Cup,” Lalas said. “Not just a World Cup, but a home World Cup, the risk of going someplace else and it not working [is] you shooting yourself in the foot.”
Lalas acknowledged that there are other factors in play, though.
“The World Cup is going to come and go. And so, you have to also take into account…the long-term viability and success and whether that’s on the field or off the field in terms of financial success in that, I don’t think that Malik Tillman could have said no to this.”
He admits that it will be a step-up for the young American attacking midfielder, but believes that unless he struggles badly, the chance of Pochettino dropping him from the roster is low.
“Is it going to be a step up? Absolutely. Is he going to be challenged? Yeah. And is there a chance that he hurts himself relative to next summer? I guess maybe…But also, let’s be honest, beggars can’t be choosers. We do not have a whole lot of depth that comes to some of these players. And so I think it would have to go really, really poorly for a Malik or anybody else to really significantly hurt their stature when it comes to the national team under Pochettino.”
In the same conversation, Lalas also spoke about Matt Turner finally getting a chance to play football again following his loan move to the New England Revolution in the MLS. He believes that Turner is at a place where he can now play consistently and hopes to reclaim that No. 1 spot for the USMNT.
“Finally it’s at a place where he can play, he can play consistently and in doing so from his perspective, hope to kind of reclaim the position of No. 1 which is still kind of wide open right now because of the fact that he hasn’t played and because of the fact that nobody’s really kind of stepped up,” Lalas explained.
“I know Freeze had a good tournament there. Zack Steffen, I think, is going to have something to say. So congratulations to him and congratulations to the New England Revolution. He comes back to a team that he knows. I think that comfort is going to serve him well… And this is also coming into a New England Revolution team that really kind of needs a shot. They are not a great team right now.”
In a similar situation, Juventus‘ American winger Timothy Weah is closing in on a move to Ligue 1, the league where he developed, to join Olympique Marseille. Lalas believes that it’s a good transfer for the 25-year-old as it’s a chance for him to play and be comfortable again. He added that while Weah didn’t have an immense impact in Italy, he did his best with the chances given.
“Well, I think that this is a good move for Timmy Weah,” Lalas said. “I think he had a good time in Italy. It wasn’t a Pulisic-esque type of impact, but I think he and his agent played this well in terms of getting to a place where I think he recognizes he’s going to have a good chance to play and where he’s going to be comfortable.”
All four players are currently part of pre-season preparations for their respective clubs, ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season, with Turner the only one who arrives in the middle of the season for the New England Revolution.
