In soccer, performing well at the international level often boosts a young player’s transfer value and Ricardo Pepi is experiencing just that. Filling in for the injured Folarin Balogun, Pepi has impressed under Mauricio Pochettino, drawing interest from other clubs. However, former USMNT star, Alexi Lalas advises Pepi to stay grounded and follow the career path of his skipper, Christian Pulisic. 

Pepi is second on the top scorer list in Eredivisie having scored 9 goals in 13 games, which is more than his tally of 7 goals from last season. Speaking on the latest episode of his ‘State of the Union Podcast’, Lalas highlights that if Pepi were to make his big money move, it wouldn’t guarantee him a spot in the starting XI. 

“I think it would be a mistake, the most important thing for Ricardo Pepi is, (to be) on the field, getting regular playing minutes, he’s improving, his confidence is high,” said Lalas, who drew comparisons to Pepi’s time at FC Augsburg. At that time, he was the most expensive transfer of the club but couldn’t find the back of the net in 15 appearances in the Bundesliga, which ultimately led to a loan move to the Eredivisie. 

“I think the perfect fit for him right now in his career is going to Italy, a lot of Americans are doing well, right now, with Weah, McKennie, Pulisic, he could find a team that is near the top, in a zone where he’s gonna get meaningful minutes, (and) have an opportunity to score goals” added Lalas, who believes Pepi is not ready for big names like Bayern Munich and Liverpool who already have established players in those positions. 

Reflecting on past American transfers, Christian Pulisic’s record-breaking move to Chelsea didn’t meet the expectations of his price tag. After trading Stamford Bridge for San Siro, the ‘Lebron James of Soccer’ has been in fine form for both club and country, drawing him comparisons to some AC Milan legends for his performances. 

Ex-AC Milan chief surprised by Christian Pulisic, reminded of Pato 

During a function for the Rossoneri, ex-AC Milan transfer chief Ariedo Brada said that the American reminded him of Milan stars, Alexandre Pato and Roberto Donadoni. The comparison holds weight since Pato and Pulisic scored iconic goals against La Liga Giants, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid in the Champions League, respectively.

Captain America has been in stellar form this season, scoring 5 goals and providing 4 assists in 13 appearances for AC Milan. He recently became the fastest player in USMNT history to reach 50 goal contributions for the Stars and Stripes. 

Heading into the 2026 World Cup on home soil, both Ricardo Pepi and Christian Pulisic will be instrumental for Pochettino if the USMNT is to break past the Round of 16. With key players like Balogun and Richards expected to recover from injuries before the international break ends, the Argentine coach will have plenty of options to choose from. Do you think the USMTN will make it past the cursed Round of 16? Do let us know in the comments.