CM: Musah experiencing Atalanta nightmare – Milan watch on with €25m at risk

Yunus Musah headed to Atalanta on loan for the season, but his time in Bergamo is not exactly going according to plan.

As Calciomercato.com recall, the deal agreed between Milan and Atalanta was a €4m loan with €25m option to buy. Yet, Musah is struggling to find playing time, after a positive first few games under Ivan Juric who has since been sacked.

The managerial change has meant that the USA international has subsequently found fewer and fewer opportunities since Raffaele Palladino took over. He played 21 minutes in the Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt, but that’s all.

This lack of opportunity risks being a double-edged sword, both for Milan – who are hoping for the €25m – and for the player in a year that will lead up to the 2026 World Cup, with the USA as a host country.

Past, present and future

Musah has played six league games (145 minutes in total, 90 of which were for Milan against Lecce), four in the Champions League (148 minutes, one assist), and once in the Coppa Italia (24 minutes, for Milan). Excluding the 114 minutes he played under Allegri, he has only played 200 minutes this season.

The competition and versatility of players like De Roon, Pasalic, Ederson, De Ketelaere, Zappacosta, Zalewski, Sulemana, Lookman and Samardzic in his roles explain the reasons for his limited use in Bergamo.

Musah wants to do everything he can to get back into the squad under USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who hasn’t called him up since March. He last appeared for the stars and stripes in the third-place play-off lost to Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Musah’s thoughts are firmly on earning a place in Palladino’s team . The presence of a new coach -following Juric’s departure – could be considered a positive factor. Clearly, if his playing time continues to be so low, the American midfielder will have to reflect.

As it stands, the idea of returning to Milan in January to stay can be ruled out. Could his loan be cut short to join another side, like Napoli? The Partenopei still looking for a midfielder, but the regulations state he cannot play for a third Italian club this season (after Milan and Atalanta).

So, the only potential option would be a move abroad, and despite previous links with Premier League clubs there seems to be nothing to suggest that teams are lining up to get Musah out of Bergamo.