- Musah joins Atalanta on loan
- Deal has a buy-in clause
- One of 10 Americans in Champions League
Linked to numerous clubs across Europe over recent months, Yunus Musah finally has a landing spot, with the U.S. international joining Atalanta on a full-season loan. The deal has a purchase clause, reported to be at $29.2 million (€25 million).
Musah gets a much-needed fresh start after two seasons of manager turmoil at AC Milan – playing under four coaches in two seasons. The midfielder never quite found a fit at the storied club, as he made 33 starts and 60 league appearances overall.
Bounced between midfield and defense during his time at the Rossoneri, the 22-year-old joins a team that might be better suited for his strengths and that will feature in this season’s Champions League.
Atalanta’s interest in Musah had been building over recent weeks and it has been reported that manager Ivan Juric appreciates the American’s game. Juric runs a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2formation, and expects his central midfielders to float around and go wide.
That suits Musah’s game as he started his professional career as a winger at Valencia before being moved inside. He’s also played wing back and full back throughout his career.
The expectation is that Musah will have a more consistent role and playing time at Atalanta, especially given the number of games the club has between Europe, League and Cup play.
Musah was not selected by Mauricio Pochettino for the U.S.’s upcoming September friendlies.
With no international duty on the schedule, Musah will now head to Bergamo to adjust to his new club and teammates.