The midfield pair have been fantastic this season, helping the Venetian outfit push for a return to Italy's top flight
The eyes of American soccer have been fixed on Italy all season. On one side stands Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan; on the other, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Juventus. Four of the U.S. men's national team's most important players have been playing in massive matches in Italy, drawing huge attention back to Serie A.
But there's also a third Italian team worth paying attention to, as a pair of young American stars has their club pushing to join the giants of Serie A. Gianluca Busio, Tanner Tessmann and Venezia are so close they can taste it, with promotion from Serie B almost a reality.
It hasn't been easy, for sure. Both played joined a Venezia side full of promise and ambition when the club was still in the top-flight, but they've since had to grow from the grind in the second tier. Busio, Tessmann and Venezia as a whole have, howevr, been sharpened by the last few seasons, and if a few things bounce their way, they'll get the chance to prove it back in Serie A next season.
That's good news for American fans, who will have more big matches to watch next season if Venezia can make it happen. It's also good news for the Olympic team, with Tessmann and Busio both set to be key figures later this summer in Paris.
GettyHarsh welcome
By 2021, both Busio and Tessman had established themselves among the best young players in MLS. Busio was dazzling with Sporting KC, evolving as a midfielder every week. Tessman, meanwhile, was emerging at FC Dallas, arguably the best talent producer in American soccer.
So when Venezia came calling that summer, it wasn't a surprise. The club's American owners had earmarked two of the country's top talents, signing them to be part of Venezia's present and future. The deal for Busio came in at $6.5 million (€5.7m), a club-record fee that signaled just how much faith those in charge had in the young American.
Heading into that 2021-22 Serie A campaign, Venezia seemed determined to become a bigger club than they'd ever been, leaning into Venetian culture and expert marketing to appeal to a larger audience. On the field, though, it all went wrong. They were immediately relegated to Serie B, finishing dead last in the league. Tessman had done well enough, featuring 20 times for the club in Serie A, while Busio made 29 appearances in total as Venezia dropped into Serie B.
And, after a difficult 2022-23 season that saw them finish eighth in the second tier, this season has seen a huge improvement, particularly from the young American stars.
AdvertisementBusio breaks out
At the time of his move to Venezia, Busio was ridiing extremely high. He had just won the Gold Cup with the U.S. and seemed poised for a breakout. A move to Serie A would surely help him challenge for a World Cup spot in 2022. It was all there for the taking.
It didn't go that way, but this season, we're seeing what the kind of development many expected from Busio when he first headed to Europe. After scoring just once across his first two seasons, Busio has contributed six goals for Venezia in Serie B this season to go with three assists. His most recent goal was a match-winner against Lecco, a huge moment in the club's promotion push.
"Buse is very technical," Tessmann told FIFA of his teammate. "When we're playing against teams who have the ball a lot, you can trust him to keep possession, move the ball and make runs. He’s also very reliable when both defending and attacking – whether he’s making runs forward or making blocks and tackles in our defensive third. In the key moments when we need someone to step up, scoring goals or stopping goals, he contributes a lot."
For Busio, the biggest evolution in his game has come defensively. During his time at Sporting KC, that side of his game was a weakness, but Peter Vermes believed that, with some fine-tuning, Busio could someday be a top-level No.6 or box-to-box midfielder.
"The one thing that he can do at the six is that he has an incredible engine," Vermes told GOAL back in 2021. "He's dynamic and has athleticism, so he can cover a ton of ground. He's incredibly, incredibly good on the ball. You can use him in the build-up, you can use him on the counter. He can give the final pass.
"You know how [Andrea] Pirlo was a deep-lying playmaker? He has those qualities in him, and at the same time, he's got a pop from distance. He also can then adapt and be a ball-winner and grind the game out if he has to from a defensive perspective. Just his progression in one-v-one defending in certain games, it's astounding for me."
Busio still has freedom to attack in this Venezia system, as evidenced by his goal contributions, and that's at least partly down to the player next to him: Tessmann.
Reliable presence
While Busio has been fantastic, Tessmann has arguably been Venezia's best player this season. A smart, technical player, his presence in midfield cannot be overlooked, as Tessmann stands out as a player that has already outgrown Serie B in a big way. Still just 22 years old, he is ready for a leap forward regardless of what happens to Venezia this season.
On the attacking side, Tessmann has six goals and three assists, headlined by a recent brace against Brescia. What he brings, though, is much more than goals and assists. He leads the team in through-balls and dribbles and is among Venezia's top chance creators.
Defensively, he stands out too. He's one of the better midfielders at intercepting the ball, while he's also in a higher tier when it comes to winning aerial duels.
"He's a complete midfielder, really," Busio said of Tessmann. "On the ball, it's great to play with him because he can find any pass. I can make runs and I don't even have to look at him, he knows where I’m going. His long balls are always on point."
Olympic dreams
The U.S. has no shortage of midfielders eligible for this summer's Olympics. From rising stars like Rokas Pukstas, Aidan Morris and Paxten Aaronson to established first-team regulars like Musah, there are plenty of ways to potentially shape that unit.
Tessmann and Busio, though, may just be the keys to the Under-23s challenging for a medal. Their familiarity with one another will be a huge boost, and both will head into this summer poised for a big tournament that could lead to a USMNT breakout.
"One of the main things for coaches and national teams is to build a group that will fight for each other and a team that has chemistry," Busio said. "That's hard to do when you only have two or three camps together before the Olympics. For myself and Tanner to have that connection means we can work with other players more – we don't have to worry about each other. We know what we can do together."
“It's fun to play with Busio,” added Tessmann. “We have a spark to us in midfield. Our relationship off the pitch also helps. We've become close friends and that allows us to communicate better on the field.”
Both Tessmann and Busio started in the recent 2-2 draw with France, a massive result for the U.S. against one of the top U23 teams in the world. It seems likely they'll form two of the starting midfield three when the real thing starts this summer, with the U.S. set to face France, New Zealand and a playoff winner in the group stage.
