AC Milan forward Alphadjo Cisse earned his first call-up to the Italy senior squad on Thursday, a selection that caps a rapid rise from Serie A newcomer to international recognition, theScore reported. The 20-year-old has scored seven goals in 12 games in his first season with Milan, a tally that includes a hat-trick in the Europa League win over Red Bull Salzburg last month.
The call-up was not a surprise to those tracking the striker’s form, but it arrived with a twist: Cisse is one of four new faces among the 31 players selected by Italy coach Roberto Mancini for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Alongside him are Parma midfielder Simone Lontani, 18, and Como teenagers Mattia Liberali and Riccardo Cassano.
Seven Goals in 12 Games Forces the Coach’s Hand
Cisse’s numbers explain the timing. Seven goals in 12 appearances across all competitions for Milan is a scoring rate that leaves selectors with little room to wait. The hat-trick against Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League last month served as the statement performance, turning a promising start into an undeniable case for inclusion.
At 20, he becomes one of the youngest players to earn a senior Italy call-up in this cycle, joining a group of teenagers that Mancini has chosen to blood alongside the established core. Liberali, 19, reinforced his own case on Wednesday by scoring in Como’s record-equalling 9-1 win over Lens in the Champions League. Cassano, 17, has yet to make his Como first-team debut, making his inclusion the most speculative of the four.
Four New Faces in a 31-Man Squad Built for November
The quartet of newcomers arrives as Italy sit second in Nations League Group A1 behind France. The Azzurri host France in Milan on November 12, then travel to Belgium three days later in a double-header that will determine whether they secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Cassano and Lontani will train with the senior squad from Sunday before rejoining Italy’s under-18 and under-19 teams, a pathway that suggests the staff views them as development projects rather than immediate options for the November fixtures. Cisse and Liberali, by contrast, arrive with senior club minutes and recent match-winning goals.
What the Selection Means for Milan and the Azzurri
Alphadjo Cisse earned his first Italy call-up after scoring seven goals in 12 games for AC Milan, coming as the Azzurri attempt to secure a quarter-final place in the Nations League. The squad of 31 includes established internationals such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nicolo Barella, and Sandro Tonali, but the headlines belong to the newcomers.
The full selection spans three goalkeepers, nine defenders, ten midfielders, and nine forwards, with Cisse listed among the forwards alongside Nicolo Zaniolo, Gianluca Scamacca, Pio Esposito, and Sebastiano Esposito.
Italy’s November Path to the Quarter-Finals
Italy’s position in Group A1 makes the November 12 match against France in Milan a direct contest for first place, with the November 15 trip to Belgium offering a chance to close the gap. A win in either fixture would strengthen their quarter-final qualification push, while dropped points would leave them dependent on results elsewhere.
Cisse will join the squad ahead of the France match, giving him a potential debut on home soil at the San Siro three days after the call-up was announced.
Related reading
