USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah has expressed his delight at a positive start to the season with Milan, attributing his renewed form to the belief shown in him by manager Ruben Amorim. Musah, who spent the previous campaign on loan at Atalanta, has made six appearances for Milan this season, accumulating 419 minutes on the pitch.
Amorim’s Promise Fulfilled
Musah revealed that Amorim contacted him before pre-season, promising him significant playing time at San Siro. Initially, the midfielder admitted to some scepticism, having experienced similar assurances from other managers in the past.
“I thought maybe [he was] just saying this like other managers just to keep you there at the club,” Musah told ESPN. However, as pre-season progressed, Amorim’s words proved true. “But actually as preseason was going on, I saw that I was playing a lot, he was talking to me a lot, and it was true. And I started the season, played a lot of minutes, a lot of starts.”
This renewed trust has been a significant factor for Musah. “It’s been a great start to the season, having managers believe in me again. As a player, that’s what you want really, managers believing in you and letting you play,” he added.
Overcoming World Cup Disappointment
Musah’s strong performances for Milan have also paved the way for his return to the USMNT squad, featuring against Peru and Mexico in two of their three most recent games. This comes after he was left out of the national team squad last summer as preparations for the 2026 World Cup continued.
The exclusion was a difficult period for the midfielder. “Not going through the World Cup was tough, and as the season went on, I could sense it because I wasn’t coming into any camps and I wasn’t playing at Atalanta as well,” he explained. “It looked like it was going to be a summer holiday for me.”
To cope with the disappointment, Musah chose to disconnect. “Literally I wasn’t on social media. I wasn’t on my phone much. I was literally just outside with the locals in Ghana and Zanzibar enjoying my summer,” he shared. He then began training in the final week of his holiday to prepare for Milan’s pre-season.
Reflecting on his return to the national team, Musah feels it is a deserved outcome of his club form. “It felt like something I deserve from the start of the season that I’ve had, so I think it’s well deserved on my part,” he said. “I’ve been performing really well for a big club, Milan, and I think it makes sense and I’m happy to be back.”
Musah’s contract with Milan is set to run until June 2028, indicating a long-term commitment to the Italian giants.