Heavy shadow over Jakarta as Pulisic misses Milan‑Chelsea friendly

Christian Pulisic will miss Milan’s friendly against Chelsea in Jakarta after a bone bruise and micro‑fracture to his right tibia‑fibula, sustained in the United States’ World Cup round‑of‑16 loss to Belgium, forcing the American talisman to sit out the Saturday match.

Milan will face Chelsea on Saturday at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, a final test before the new season. The Italian side arrives after a 1‑1 draw with Inter, while the Blues look to bounce back from a 1‑0 defeat to Juventus.

The fixture carries extra significance because several players have links to the London club. Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus‑Cheek and Christopher Nkunku could line up for the Rossoneri against their former side, a storyline that would have been amplified by Pulisic’s presence.

The 27‑year‑old American forward spent four seasons at Chelsea before moving to San Siro in 2023, establishing himself as one of Milan’s most important attacking players. His absence deprives the Rossoneri of wing quality and personal motivation against his former employer.

Pulisic’s injury occurred during the United States’ Round of 16 match with Belgium when a shot attempt led to a collision with Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans. Medical examinations revealed a bone bruise and a microfracture around the tibia‑fibula area of his right leg, ending his World Cup campaign.

Instead of joining Milan’s preseason tour of Australia, Indonesia and Poland, he remained at Milanello to continue rehabilitation. La dello Sport reports the club prioritized avoiding a rapid workload increase, and he returned to Milanello on July 30 for further medical checks and individual training.

Doctors expect the recovery to take weeks rather than months, giving Milan hope of an early return. The Rossoneri hope Pulisic could be available for their Serie A opener against Torino on August 23, or shortly thereafter.

Chelsea manager Ruben Amorim has little reason to risk the winger’s fitness in a friendly, preferring to protect one of his most important players as the competitive season approaches. The decision underscores the cautious approach both clubs are taking with key assets ahead of the league campaign.