Musah: What Amorim told me was ‘true’, World Cup snub ‘was tough’

Yunus Musah is delighted Ruben Amorim truly gave him a second chance at Milan: ‘It’s been a great start to the season, having managers believe in me again.’

USMNT midfielder Musah has returned to his national team for this break after being left out of the squad for the 2026 World Cup last summer.

The American midfielder, who spent the previous campaign on loan at Atalanta, is part of Amorim’s plan at San Siro and has received considerable playing time so far.

Musah ‘deserved’ USMNT return

LECCE, ITALY – MARCH 08: Tete Morente of Lecce competes for the ball with Yunus Musah of Milan during the Serie A match between Lecce and AC Milan at Stadio Via del Mare on March 08, 2025 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Musah told ESPN that Amorim texted him before pre-season to say he wanted him to stay at the club.

“I thought maybe [he was] just saying this like other managers just to keep you there at the club,” Musah admitted.

“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.

“And then now coming to national team as well, being back here. So 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.”

Musah featured against Peru and Mexico in two of the USMNT’s three most recent games.

“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.” Musah said about his return to the USMNT.

FLORENCE, ITALY – MAY 22: Yunus Musah of Atalanta BC in action against Giovanni Fabbian of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Atalanta BC at Artemio Franchi on May 22, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

“I’ve been performing really well for a big club, Milan, and I think it makes sense and I’m happy to be back.

“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 continued.

“It looked like it was going to be a summer holiday for me.”

So, what did he do after the end of the 2025-26 season?

Milan midfielder Yunus Musah applauds the USA fans after the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 group C match between USA and Bolivia, in Arlington, Texas, USA, 23 June 2024. EPA-EFE/KEVIN JAIRAJ

“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 replied.

“And then the last week of my holiday, I started training a bit to get ready for preseason in Milan “I always like to disconnect. So that’s me every summer.”

Musah has made six appearances for Milan so far this season, spending 419 minutes on the field. His contract at San Siro runs out in June 2028.