Christian Pulisic was introduced as an AC Milan player on Thursday.

He’s the third American after Oguchi Onyewu and Sergino Destto join the Rossoneri and he’s banking on establishing himself as the storied Italian club’s first U.S. star.

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His career set back by a knee injury suffered on the final day of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, Onyewu never made a Serie A appearance for Milan.

Dest’s season at Milan on loan from Barcelona turned into a nightmare. He played just 325 minutes in Serie A and was dropped from the Milan roster for the knockout stage of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League in which it reached the semifinals.

Pulisic hopes to get what he rarely got an Chelsea: at extended run in the starting lineup. Injuries set him back, and he struggled to win the confidence of his managers. He started just 58 Premier League games over his four seasons at Stamford Bridge, an average of  just 14.5 games a season, little more than one in three games.

“Of course, there were definitely times where I wish I could have gotten that much more of an opportunity and been ‘that guy,’ but that’s not the case,” he said in an interview with ESPN.

Pulisic said he was proud of what he accomplished, though. His four years were highlighted by Chelsea’s 2021 UEFA Champions League title run during which he was its best player in its semifinal series with Real Madrid.

As for Milan, the 24-year-old forward said he doesn’t want to be labeled as Milan’s American or its first American to make it.

“This club has won titles all its history, and while I’m obviously keen to represent my country and to be the first guy from the U.S. to come here and make a big impact, the key fact is that I’m here to help AC Milan keep winning trophies,” he said.

Pulisic said Milan’s coach, Stefano Pioli, made him feel wanted and explained to him how he would fit in.

“That’s precisely what I wanted to hear,” he told ESPN. “Obviously I just want a fair opportunity like everyone else, I still need to earn my place of course, but it felt like I was genuinely wanted here. When I show good effort, good attitude every day and train well, I’m going to get the opportunity to go out and perform.”

He should get a chance. Algerian playmaker Ismael Bennacer could be out until the end of the year with a knee injury, while young Spaniard Brahim Diaz, instrumental in Milan’s 2022 Serie A title and run to the 2023 Champions League semifinals, returned to Real Madrid after three seasons on loan.

Pulisic was Milan’s second summer signing after Chelsea teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He joins an attack that includes French center forward Olivier Giroud and Portuguese winger Rafael Leao, who combined for 28 goals and 13 assists in the 2022-23 season.

The Milan sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport labeled Pulisic as “Il Jolly,” an Italian sports term for a utility player.

La Gazzetta dello Sport presented two formations in which Pioli might use Pulisic, the first as the playmaker in a 4-2-3-1 lineup and the second as w winger, either on the right side or left side, in Leao’s place, in a 4-3-3.

“Coach Pioli explained to mem” Pulisic told ESPN, “the reason they want me in is because I’m a very direct and creative player.”

And versatile, too.

AC Milan summer tour:
Sunday, July 23
Real Madrid vs. AC Milan, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Thursday, July 27 
Juventus vs. AC Milan, Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
Tuesday, August 1 
AC Milan vs. Barcelona, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas