da bet vitoria： The American midfielder is fighting against the current as he tries to keep his club in La Liga, but could these be his final games in Spain?
da doce： When it comes to Yunus Musah, it's always felt like it was a matter of not if, but when.
The U.S. men's national team midfielder left Arsenal in search of playing time and, over the last few years, he's found it at Valencia. He kickstarted his professional career and become a World Cup star. The decision has been more than justified.
But with Valencia in danger of relegation and Musah's stock seemingly at an all-time high, this summer may be the summer where everything changes.
To date, Musah has shown loyalty to Valencia, no matter the attention he's drawn. Despite the club's on and off-field struggles, the big names circling and the inconsistent role he plays, Musah has never really shown much interest in leaving Valencia.
Now, though, it seems time for Musah to seize the moment and take the step he seemingly needs to if he wants to become the player he has the potential to be.
The decision may not be his alone, depending on how Valencia finish and how the club's financial struggles impact their summer plans. They are on thin ice, on and off the field, and selling Musah may end up being their way of staying afloat.
But what is the best move for the USMNT star? GOAL breaks down what the future may hold…
GettyMusah's first big move
It was a brave move looking back on it, even if it has become slightly more commonplace in recent years.
Musah was seemingly working his way up through the Arsenal academy, having joined the club at age nine. The Gunners' youth staff had high hopes for him as a player; the pathway was there for Musah to make his way to Arsenal's first team.
But impatient to make his breakthrough, the midfielder departed for Valencia in 2019 – an uncommon landing place for English starlets. In recent years, the likes of Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham and Folarin Balogun have become superstars away from English shores, and though he is not such a big name, Musah has found success too.
He's played 120 games for the Spanish club over the last three seasons, playing a consistent role for a team that, at one point, was among Spain's best. Those days are long gone, though, with Musah one of the few bright spots for a club that has tumbled oh so far in recent years.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhy it's time to go
Valencia are a long way from their heyday when stars like David Villa, Juan Mata, and David Silva helped them battle right at the top of La Liga.
Those types of players are long gone, and Valencia find themselves much closer to the bottom of Spain's top flight these days.
Years of mismanagement are finally impacting the club, with Los Che battling relegation this season. A last-gasp 2-1 win over Real Valladolid on Thursday lifted them out of the relegation zones, but they sit just two points above the bottom three with seven games remaining.
Musah has been one of this season's bright spots, having finally been deployed as a central midfielder, much like he is with the USMNT. After several seasons of being played out wide, he's showing just how good he can be centrally.
Musah is one of few Valencia players who can hold their heads up high. Against Valladolid, Musah completed the most dribbles, won the most duels and had the most tackles. He's done everything for this club, and that's why it's likely time to go.
It feels like the midfielder has gotten all he can get out of Valencia at this stage of his career. The club gave him a place to play, a place to grow, a place to flourish, but he's at a point where he's outgrown this level. Musah is better than a La Liga relegation scrap and, to evolve his game, he can't keep swimming against the current that continues to push Valencia further and further from La Liga's elite.
Valencia, notoriously, have been unafraid to cash in when the time felt right, with the likes of Ferran Torres, Nicolas Otamendi, Joao Cancelo, Rodrigo and Shkodran Mustafi all being sold for massive fees during the last decade. Musah seems like he can be the next to leave the club for bigger and better things. For some time, it's seemed like all involved have been building him up for his inevitable departure.
The 20-year-old midfielder is ready for the top level. He's ready to be pushed by players of a higher level. He's ready for whatever's next.
GettyStock at an all-time high
While American and Spanish fans have long been familiar with Musah's game, the young midfielder announced truly himself at the World Cup in Qatar.
In particular, the USMNT's match against England was a valuable introduction to the global stage, with Musah stepping up in a big way in his biggest test to date. Facing off with Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, both of whom could go for nine figures this summer, Musah, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams bossed the game, drawing heavy praise from those in England.
That match, along with the rest of the USMNT's four-game run, offered further evidence of just how ready Musah is for a step up the ladder. On a good team, one that will dominate play, Musah can be a real asset.
His ability to progress the ball is so, so valuable to the USMNT, with his dribbling ability setting him apart from team-mates McKennie and Adams. For a top team, Musah could be a vital midfield piece and, at just 20, he can be that piece for years to come.
He'll also be available at a cheaper price than many would expect, even though he has a release clause of €100 million (£88m/$110m) as part of a contract that runs through 2026. Because of their financial struggles, Valencia will reportedly accept any significant offer for Musah, and the pressure to cash in will grow out of control if the club is actually relegated.
A young, World Cup-quality midfielder for a cut-price fee? What more could clubs ask for?
He has a different profile than Bellingham or Rice, but for any club needing midfield help that misses out on those two, Musah could be the answer.
GettyA return to England?
Most commonly, Musah has been linked with a return to England, and there are a number of top clubs that could use him.
Arsenal, for years, have been the team most often connected with a move for Musah, with the midfielder still having plenty of admirers in north London. It's easy to see Musah becoming a centerpiece of Mikel Arteta's midfield, which has two key players, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka, on the wrong side of 30.
In the Spanish press it's been claimed that Liverpool are ready to push hard for Musah as they prepare for their own midfield rebuild. Jurgen Klopp is said to be a huge admirer of the youngster, and it's easy to see how his skillset and work rate on and off the ball would fit into the German coach's thinking.
Liverpool seem like they may be the best fit, at least on paper. The club needs midfield help in a big way, with this season proving that a massive rebuild is needed in the center of the field at Anfield. The Reds are set to sign at least a few players in that position this summer, and Musah has the added benefit of being a homegrown player when it comes to squad registration.
Chelsea have reportedly been keeping tabs, although that move would seem difficult given the pure numbers the Blues have in the squad, while Newcastle and Brighton are supposedly hoping to lure Musah with the offer of European soccer.
However, Musah has spurred English soccer before to go his own way, and Premier League clubs aren't the only ones that will try to bring him in this summer.