The American darling of football was having a tough time. After striding his way through youth football with verve and excitement, Christian Pulisic suddenly found himself in an unwanted position: unwanted.
The 20-year-old has been the much-championed talent throughout his life. Dortmund very much saw him as their future. And they were not shy in telling him that. He has grown up wanted. And then, suddenly, he wasn’t.
For Pulisic, Jadon Sancho happened. A bright, young Brit, very much the equal of Pulisic across the pond, who rode a wave of celebration and expectation into Dortmund, first startling in substitute appearances and then just stealing Pulisic’s starting job away from him.