CM: Cisse scores hat-trick for Italy U21s – Milan and Amorim’s plan for his development

Alphadjo Cisse has had a great start to the season with AC Milan and it continued with the Italian U21 national team, too.

After arriving in the summer and being instantly linked with a loan move away, Cisse is showing that he belongs in the top flight. His goals against Torino and Juventus in difficult away games show that he is not phased by playing for Milan and in Serie a.

After the game against Torino, Ruben Amorim declared: “I love Cisse, he seemed like the most experienced of ours.” The 19-year-old Italian is already a key asset to the team in his eyes, and the minutes played have reflected this.

Work still to be done

As Calciomercato.com write, the most intriguing and yet most challenging mission for an ambitious coach is to develop the more talented young players at the right pace. Amorim studies Cisse in minute detail, training session after training session.

He and his staff, through data analysis, have noticed that – while still not fully fit following a long injury earlier in 2026 – he runs less than the others. They are working on this aspect to get him to his full potential.

His dribbling ability and space management are already at an impressive level. Among the issues identified is a slightly lower performance standard when he plays at San Siro, but this is entirely predictable considering the pressure a stadium like this places on such a young player.

Cisse’s zero minutes against Lecce didn’t make headlines thanks to Milan’s convincing performance and a resounding 3-0 win. Amorim is developing a plan for ‘Alpha’, aiming to keep him on top of things.

He’s freed from the responsibility of carrying the team, but he’s also committed to making him understand that nothing at Milan is owed, much less taken for granted. Amorim speaks directly to his players, believing honesty is a quality that pays off in a dressing room.

Amorim expects a lot from Cisse in terms of growth, having seen his unstoppable desire to learn and understand from day one. He demands that he maintain a high level of concentration, work hard to return to 100%, and also be able to understand the different moments of the season.

With Christian Pulisic back at 100% and Alexis Saelemaekers now seen as an attacking midfielder too, the opportunities for starts naturally reduces. This is why managing his strengths – both physical and mental – will be crucial for Cisse.

In the meantime, he is showing no signs of slowing down. Alphadjo Cisse scored a hat-trick in Italy’s U21 team’s 15-0 friendly win over Empoli’s Primavera team on Thursday in Tirrenia.