Cisse discusses humble beginnings, choosing Milan, Italy call-up, Amorim and amazing form
It has been a simply remarkable rise for Cisse, who at the start of 2026 was playing in the second division with Catanzaro, on loan from Hellas Verona. Milan bought him from there but left him with his loan club, before a serious injury needed surgery and ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Fast-forwarding to early November, and the 20-year-old is currently the top scorer for the Rossoneri with eight goals, the most recent of which came in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Genoa. There is talk of an imminent renewal already, while Roberto Mancini gave him a senior Italy call-up.
Cisse gave an exclusive interview to Cronache di Spogliatoio in which he touched upon various topics from his upbringing to the brilliant moment he is currently experiencing. MilanNews relayed his words.
How did you get into football?
“My life changed in my father’s factory. A Verona manager went to meet him at work to beg him to take me to their place. He’d been a worker forever: every day he’d leave work at 5:00pm, and by 5:15 he was already outside our house, calling me and taking me to play soccer.
“I still remember the first time. It was afternoon. He came up to the house and said, ‘Come on, I’ll take you somewhere’. And we went to the pitch. He was the one who instilled in me the passion for soccer, and from that moment on, I’ve never stopped.
“My parents made so many sacrifices to support me on this journey: my mom, when she had days off from work, would come up with me to take me on the bus to practice.”
What are your parents like?
“My mom is a very demanding mom. But she helps me stay focused and prevent fame from overwhelming me. So everything becomes easier with her. They tell me every day that they’re proud of me, but they also do everything they can to keep me grounded.
“Carlos, Milan’s assistant coach, often tells me this too: ‘ Surround yourself with people who truly love you and who help you stay focused’. I’m sure of this: I carry with me the carefree attitude of the child I was. I play with a smile. It’s hard not to have that in these first few months.”
You have just been called up by the Italian national team for the first time…
“I was on my way to do the pre-match interview against Ferencváros in the Europa League and they stopped me to say, ‘Alpha, they’ve called you up to the national team… the senior team!’ I had the match, I only realised afterwards.
“I want to prove I can compete. The call was in the air, they’d been talking to me about it for days… but this is my big chance. I haven’t had the chance to stop and think about my career. Football moves fast.”
What are your ambitions?
“A few weeks ago, they asked me how much of a footballer I’d shown. I said 70%. Can I say that? Maybe I need to lower it a bit… let’s say 40%, because I have so many aspects to improve on, but at the same time, I know who I am and what I’m worth.
“Last season, Aquilani – who was my coach at Catanzaro – told me that ‘if you don’t play at least 10 years in Serie A, I think you’ll have failed’. I took it as a positive motivation, a phrase that pushed me to always do better and believe in what I can do.
“One of my friends in football is Favasuli, I met him just last year in Serie B. We often found ourselves talking… daydreaming. I still remember the day he said to me: ‘Think about when one day we’ll face two great teams’.
“I smiled. ‘It would be great to meet again in Serie A, but maybe it’s a little too late for me, I’m already 23…’ Instead, he made it too: Milan-Napoli will be in December, we’ll see. He was my driver, he drove me to camp. He’s proof that there’s no age to stop feeling young or believing in it, no matter the path.”
Your path has already taken you from Verona to Catanzaro and to Milan…
“In those very months, my life changed again. No longer in my father’s factory. In a matter of days, I had gone from wondering how far I was from Serie A to finding myself facing the most important decision of my career.
“I’ll be honest: I didn’t take that moment very well. When I arrived at Catanzaro, I had only played two five-minute games in Serie A, including against AC Milan. Aquilani and manager Polito really wanted me, they pushed me. It was my first experience away from home.
“In just a few months, I scored a lot, everyone wanted me. And in January, I was practically on a flight to Holland, bound for Rotterdam: to sign with PSV. But then AC Milan came along.”
Why Milan?
“My friends’ WhatsApp group exploded: ‘Alpha, is it true?!’ And I was like, ‘Yes guys, yes!’ I didn’t want to make the wrong choice: PSV wanted me right away, while Milan would have let me finish the season in Serie B.
“Two great teams, but Milan… how do you explain that? I was experiencing a mix of emotions; my parents told me to stay calm and that the best was yet to come. We decided this was the right choice. And judging by how things are going, I’d say we were right.”
What was your arrival at Milan like?
“The first few times I came to Milanello, I did so to recover from my injury. Milan left me at Catanzaro, yes, but after a few days I got injured. In fact, I had serious doubts: ‘I’m coming to AC Milan after an injury, let’s see how it goes’.
“This is exactly what Amorim spoke to me about as soon as we met. We focused on the injury, and he explained what he expected of me on the pitch. He’s a great guy, and he knows how to deal with us young players. And he knows how to keep me grounded. Even though I’m not someone who likes to let my mind wander.”
You kept a promise after your Europa League hat-trick…
“Even after my hat-trick in the Europa League, I have to say that everything was already clear to me: it was simply confirmation to myself that I can compete at this level. I didn’t see it as a point of arrival, but as a promise kept to the child I was.
“And above all, as a promise to keep. Even though I was coming back from a long injury, even though I’m young and have so many areas to improve, I never had any doubts about my abilities or where I could go. I’m very demanding of myself, just like my mother.”
Who are some of your idols?
“Modrić gave me some advice on what I need to improve: I need to read the game better and understand the moments of the match. He’s a great player, a spectacular person, willing to help you learn, and interesting to listen to.
“Even though my idol was very different as a kid: Paul Pogba, when he was at Juventus. We do different things on the pitch, and his haircut certainly didn’t go unnoticed by a kid… maybe I’ll get one in the future! What I appreciated about him was that he made people laugh: that’s what I want to do too.
“I was inspired by the player whose jersey I had as a child: Clarence Seedorf. My mother gave it to me; it was the one I wore on the pitch. So maybe it was just my destiny to come here. Seedorf became an idol at San Siro.
“The place where you feel the grandeur, the pressure, the feeling of playing in a stadium that represents a childhood dream. Being there now is like saying to the child I was: ‘See? You did it’. It’s a huge motivation for me. But I’m carefree enough not to be affected by it.
“When you start playing, you notice it less and you don’t pay attention: it’s easier. The fans are incredibly attached to the team; you notice it not just in Milan, but all over the world. And that’s how you understand where you are. I was really impressed by the organization here.”
Do you like to play with a certain freedom?
“I’m very carefree when I go on the pitch. Whether it’s playing in Serie B or going to San Siro, I think it’s normal for me. I’m the same person I always am. As a kid, I was obsessed with bicycle kicks; I scored five or six incredible goals… now I avoid them!
“In the Verona youth team, I had a coach, Paolo Sammarco, who shaped the way I play today: he gave me a lot of freedom, helping me understand how I should express myself.”
Is it important for young Italian players to have confidence?
“Italy is full of strong young players, I assure you. It all depends on the opportunities you’re given. Many have emerged in recent months, including me, and I’m sure many more will emerge in the near future.
“When you reach a certain level, you’re amazed: one above all, I was struck by Pisilli, he’s simply amazing. I knew him, but when I played with him, I understood his strength. And I understood my own strength when, in my early years in Verona, I approached the big boys.
“The level was rising, but I continued to have faith, to understand that I could achieve great things if I followed the path I had. That I had something special.”
Your life has changed a lot, are you still the same person?
“My life has changed so much in the past few months, perhaps more than I can even realize. There are moments when I stop and think about how different everything is from just a short while ago. Football is taking me to places I dreamed of, but inside I’m still the same boy.
“But I know what my ambitions are. And perhaps that’s exactly what helps me not lose myself, even when everything changes. I try to enjoy every moment, without forgetting where I started from and all the people who have accompanied me to this point.”
Finally, clear something up: how do you say your name?
“My name is Cisse, without an accent. My name can be read any way, but it’s pronounced ‘Sisse’. I even had to send a voice message to the commentators!”
