Rumours of a rift between AC Milan stars Christian Pulisic and Youssouf Fofana and their head coach Sérgio Conceição are not true, sources have told ESPN.
Reports emerged in Italian media on Thursday that Pulisic and Fofana had fallen out with the Portuguese manager in the wake of Tuesday’s disappointing exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Feyenoord, with La Repubblica claiming the United States forward would ask to leave unless Conceição was removed from his post for the 2025-26 season.
The report also claimed that Pulisic and Fofana were the most vocal in opposing Conceição’s methods that had supposedly grated on several members of the squad despite the coach only being appointed on Dec. 30.
Multiple sources told ESPN that the reports of a standoff had been greatly exaggerated and the team are united in their pursuit of qualifying for the Champions League again next season.
Pulisic was withdrawn after an hour of Milan’s 1-1 draw with Feyenoord, the first player to be substituted despite leading the team in goal contributions in all competitions this term with 21. He has moved position to right wing to accommodate Conceição’s desire to play Rafael Leão on the left-hand side and loan signing João Félix through the middle, though sources said there had been no indication this had been the cause of any row.
Milan have struggled this season, with Paulo Fonseca fired after just half a campaign as the Rossoneri were eighth in Serie A with a game in hand on the teams ahead of them.
Conceição was brought in on a two-and-a-half year deal and made an almost immediate impact as they defeated fierce rivals Inter Milan to lift the Italian Supercoppa in January.
Their form in the league under the former FC Porto coach has seen the team move to seventh, though they still have a game in hand on fourth-placed Juventus who are five points ahead.
Milan travel to Torino on Saturday in their next game as they continue their pursuit of a place in next year’s elite European club competition.
