Americans Abroad: The Christian Pulisic redemption tour begins in Serie A, Norwich's Josh Sargent set to strike again and Sergino Dest's dribbling on display for PSV

After failing to win the Ballon d'Or last year, Vinicius Jr put out a compelling tweet, saying that he would "come back 10x more if he had to." At the time, it sounded quite cool. After all, Vinicius is very good and a very good version of him is world-class.

Similarly, Pulisic responded to the "haters" in his PULISC documentary by criticizing those who had criticized him for skipping the Gold Cup. On one hand, that's just another entry in hot-take culture of American sports.

But there is, more broadly, a point here. Pulisic has, in effect, been challenged to show that he can play football again. Don't like what the former USMNT players are saying about you?

This is the chance to prove it, or as Pulisic put it, "I have paid the price. That's the only thing that starts to get on my nerves. But to be honest, it just fuels me to get back on the field and just shut everyone up and show everyone what I'm about at the end of the day."

The goal against Bari was a nice start, but now things get trickier. Cremonese aren't particularly good, but there may yet be some teething issues under new Milan manager Max Allegri. He isn't renowned for his spellbinding football, and his experimentation with Pulisic as a striker may lead to some tactical awkwardness - especially in the short term.

That means chances might be fewer - even if Milan are more resolute defensively. It's on Pulisic, then, to take the ones he gets. 

We are so often told by the USMNT truthers that Josh Sargent is too good for the Championship. He is a better goalscorer, better dribbler, better in his movement. He works hard, wins his headers, and does all of the things an elite second division player should.

The issue with that is that expectations immediately skyrocket. Sargent, surely, must play at a level above. He has to. There is, in fact, no way that he can't. He's had three goals in three matches for Norwich already this season, which is in stark contrast to the fact he hasn't scored for the USMNT since 2019.

The truth is perhaps a little different. But what we do know for sure is that there has been some interest from big five clubs in the striker. Wolfsburg were linked. Other chatter has drifted in and out of the ether. That doesn't necessarily mean anything will happen, especially nine days from the transfer window closing. 

Middlesbrough should make for a tough opponent, too. They won their first two games of the season. But home field advantage could count for something for Sargent. If this is to be his swansong, the pieces are in place for it to be a good one.

What do you want out or your fullback? Do you want defensive prowess, a lockdown one-on-one presence who will shut down any winger? Or do you want an expert passer? Or, you can have Sergino Dest, who loves to have the ball at his feet.

His dribbling numbers are up there with some of the best wingers in world football, with PSV manager Peter Bosz giving the American free roam to sort of try things. It worked a charm last week, as Dest completed seven dribbles in a 2-0 win. He is currently leading the league in dribbles per 90 minutes.

That should transform into some sort of attacking production. Groningen, who are expected to struggle this year, should provide an ideal opponent in that effort. Dest still isn't at his transformative best. He is still recovering from a serious knee injury sustained last year.

But the numbers suggest there's plenty more to come.