AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah is rediscovering his form at club level, and his improvement has put him back in contention for a place in the U.S. national team. In last weekend’s Serie A match against Atalanta, Musah carried the ball forward from just beyond the center circle, and his drive deflected off defender Relja Obric to earn Milan a penalty. Gonçalo Ramos converted it, and Milan went on to win 3-2.
That performance was the latest sign of Musah’s revival. Last season, he endured a difficult campaign on loan at Atalanta. He rarely established himself in the starting lineup, and because he was on loan, the club had little reason to invest in a player who might leave at season’s end.
Musah made 29 appearances in all competitions last season, but those added up to just 939 minutes of play. This season, he has already logged 572 minutes in all competitions, more than halfway to last season’s total just two months into the campaign.
Earlier this month, while on international duty with the United States, Musah sat poolside at the team hotel, as upbeat and smiling as ever. He is a more seasoned player than the teenager who emerged during the 2022 FIFA World Cup cycle and started all four of the U.S.’s games in Qatar. The past few years have toughened him. The process was uncomfortable, but he now appears stronger for it.
His rising playing time matches how he views himself. He remains confident in his abilities.
“[It was] very frustrating, because I believe that I’m a player that’s a starter,” Musah said about last season in a recent interview. “I believe that I’m a starter, so having me as a starter on the bench and not getting used pretty much the whole season was really tough. If I felt that I didn’t have the qualities to play, then I would’ve put my hand up and say, ‘Yeah, I deserve to be on the bench.’ But I think that I have the qualities to be a starter, so it was a season that was [in some ways] a waste on the bench. But at the same time, I learned so much from it, so I wouldn’t necessarily say that it was a waste of a season because I learned a lot from it.”
That lack of playing time also cost him a spot in the reckoning for the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup roster. Musah’s standing had been such that his omission did not come as a surprise.
A Renewed Role at Milan
Musah is experiencing a different feeling now. He has not been perfect for Milan this season. Against Atalanta, he lost track of Gianluca Gaetano, who scored Atalanta’s first goal. Overall, however, the U.S. midfielder has become one of Milan’s most improved and important players in 2026-27.
The numbers support what the eye test shows. According to TruMedia, the 23-year-old has been cleaner on the ball in Serie A this season, completing 92.6% of his passes compared with 88.0% last campaign. His defensive work has also improved, as he is winning a higher percentage of duels (61.3%, up from 52.2%) and tackles (60.0%, up from 37.5%).
Returning to his preferred central midfield position has helped him. He spent much of last season at wingback. He admits that the seeds of his improvement were planted on the training ground with Atalanta, where he gradually grew more comfortable in a two-man central midfield. He adjusted his positioning and body shape, and he developed a better sense of when and where to take risks. Knowing where he will line up each week has also made a difference.
“I love playing in middle. It’s my favorite position,” Musah said. “And it’s nice to just concentrate on one position and try to get better just in one position rather than always changing.”
Playing alongside Luka Modric has also benefited him. The two have complementary skill sets, with Modric delivering the cultured passes while Musah handles much of the running and defensive work. Musah also learns from the Croatia captain’s experience, which includes six UEFA Champions League titles and four LaLiga crowns with Real Madrid.
“It’s amazing, really. I’m learning a lot from [Modric], and at his age he’s still running so much,” Musah said. “He’s so fit and is very decisive for us. He’s still our best player.”
Musah added, “He talks to us a lot, and also just in the manner in which he plays, he’s that kind of leader that shows you how it’s done.”
Trust From the Manager
None of these factors would matter without the backing of the manager. Musah has that backing from Ruben Amorim. Last summer, amid speculation that Musah was leaving Milan, a text from Amorim during preseason told him he was part of the new manager’s plans. Musah still had doubts, but Amorim has matched his words with action. When Adrien Rabiot returned from an early-season injury, Amorim still found a way to get Musah onto the field.
Communication between the two has been clear.
“He just transmits a lot of positivity, understanding,” Musah said of Amorim. “He just gives me, every game, just clear ideas on how to beat the opponent. I go into the game with a clear head because I know exactly what the manager’s asking from me. And then, he’s like, ‘Try whatever I’m telling you, and if it doesn’t work, it’s my fault.’ So it gives me a lot of freedom in my mind that I’m just doing what the manager’s saying, and most of the time it works.”
Still Building Toward the U.S. Team
Musah’s club form has not yet fully carried over to the USMNT. During the September and October four-game international window, he logged 132 minutes, with one start and two appearances off the bench. Manager Mauricio Pochettino’s plan for the window included giving the next generation of players international experience, so playing time was spread around.
Competition in central midfield remains fierce. Weston McKennie of Juventus, Johnny Cardoso of Atlético Madrid, Aidan Morris of Middlesbrough and Tanner Tessmann of Lyon were all left out of the recent squad for various reasons. If any of those competitors regains form or health, Musah could find himself on the outside looking in when the U.S. reconvenes for the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals against Jamaica in just over two weeks.
Still, Musah’s club form gives him more control over his international future. His recent experiences should also help him handle whatever obstacles lie ahead.