Former Arsenal youngster Yunus Musah has opened the door to a potential £40 million switch to Serie A, the ‘incredibly versatile’ USA international telling Gazzetta dello Sport that he would relish a return to Italy.
At the age of just 19, one of the game’s most exciting young midfielders already has more stamps on his passport than Michael Palin. Born in the Bronx, Musah started his footballing journey in Italy before ending up in Spain, via a seven-year stint in Arsenal’s academy.
As such, before committing his international allegiance to the USMNT, Musah was also eligible to represent England and Italy. Not to mention his parent’s homeland of Ghana.
Picking up his 20th international cap during Monday’s 1-1 World Cup draw with Wales, the tenacious teenager is unlikely to have few regrets about his decision to pull on the old stars and stripes, Musah’s eye-catching displays under Gregg Berhalter helping raise the profile of a player now valued in the region of £40 million.
Former Arsenal youngster Yunus Musah now linked with Inter Milan and Barcelona
“(He is) powerful, very strong physically and has good individual technique,” former Valencia coach Jose Bordalas says of Musah, who turned down the chance to sign a new deal with Arsenal before leaving on a free a couple of years ago.
“He’s incredibly versatile. I used him in midfield in various positions, also on the wing and even as a second striker. He’s done well everywhere. And these positional changes have helped him to improve in the defensive phase as well.
“He has a good first touch, a good shot, great acceleration, and is good in one-on-one situations. This, combined with his explosiveness, makes him a real weapon because he can get in behind the opposition defensive line.”
Musah’s agent last week admitted that Barcelona had expressed an interest. Giacomo Guidolin does, however, admit that Serie A is perhaps a more likely destination. Musah, after all, is making no secret of his desire to embark upon a second spell on Italian soil.
“Of course I speak Italian,” Musah adds. “I spent my childhood in Italy. I still have many friends there and I always talk to them.”
“I’ve heard and read a lot of things (about Inter Milan’s interest) too in the last few days. But to tell you the truth, my agent hasn’t said anything to me about it. I can’t know how much truth there is in it.
“In life, you never know what happens. Of course, I’d like to come back as a protagonist one day.”
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