A player sold by Chelsea last summer has actually just been ranked very highly on ESPN’s list of the world’s best forwards.
There’s been a major reshuffle of the squad at Stamford Bridge under this ownership, particularly during last summer’s transfer window.
The Blues sold a number of high-profile players in the summer of 2023. This includes the likes of Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
When you see how most of those individuals have performed since leaving Chelsea, it does make you question some of the club’s decision-making.
Former Chelsea star in the top 30
ESPN’s ranking of the world’s best forwards right now does include AC Milan and former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic.
The United States star has just completed an excellent debut season at the San Siro, scoring 15 goals and making 11 assists in 50 Milan appearances.
His £20m move (BBC) to Serie A last summer now looks like a bargain for the Italian giants.
Pulisic ranks 28th on ESPN’s list of the world’s forwards. Incidentally, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is 11th after his stunning breakthrough year.
| ESPN ranking | Name |
| 30. | Viktor Gyokeres |
| 29. | Jack Grealish |
| 28. | Christian Pulisic |
| 27. | Ousmane Dembele |
| 26. | Robert Lewandowski |
| 25. | Niclas Fullkrug |
| 24. | Paulo Dybala |
| 23. | Dusan Vlahovic |
| 22. | Victor Boniface |
| 21. | Leroy Sane |
| 20. | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
| 19. | Luis Diaz |
| 18. | Alexander Isak |
| 17. | Ollie Watkins |
| 16. | Rodrygo |
| 15. | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 14. | Rafael Leao |
| 13. | Victor Osimhen |
| 12. | Lautaro Martinez |
| 11. | Cole Palmer |
| 10. | Heung-Min Son |
| 9. | Bukayo Saka |
| 8. | Phil Foden |
| 7. | Lionel Messi |
| 6. | Antoine Griezmann |
| 5. | Mohamed Salah |
| 4. | Vinicius Junior |
| 3. | Erling Haaland |
| 2. | Harry Kane |
| 1. | Kylian Mbappe |
Christian Pulisic sale made sense
Yes, it’s easy to look now with hindsight and argue that Chelsea should have kept Pulisic for longer.
However, the reality is that the winger’s Chelsea spell had gone stale after four years and he needed a fresh start to reignite his career. He only scored 26 goals in 145 Blues appearances, so a switch last summer made sense for all parties.
It’s great to see the 25-year-old now looks fitter in Milan colours and is thriving in Italian football, which is better suited to his game.
READ MORE: Christian Pulisic has done something for AC Milan that no one has since Kaka
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