Italy Call-up Earned by AC Milan Forward Alphadjo Cisse

Seven goals in 12 games. That is the line that carried AC Milan’s 20-year-old forward Alphadjo Cisse into Italy’s senior squad on Thursday, earning him his first call-up for Nations League matches against France and Belgium, nst.com.my reported. The reports describe an impressive start to Cisse’s first season with Milan, highlighted by a hat-trick in the Europa League win over Red Bull Salzburg last month.

Cisse is one of four new faces among the 31 players selected for the upcoming fixtures. Italy are second in Nations League Group A1 behind France ahead of their clash in Milan on November 12, and the Azzurri travel to Belgium three days later as they attempt to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

The season numbers behind Cisse’s call-up

The 20-year-old has scored seven goals in 12 games in his first season with Milan, according to the reports. The standout performance came in the Europa League, where he netted a hat-trick in the win over Red Bull Salzburg last month.

Where Italy stand in Group A1

Italy sit second in Nations League Group A1, behind France, with the clash against Les Bleus set for Milan on November 12. Three days later, on November 15, the Azzurri travel to Belgium. A win or wins in those two matches would go a long way toward securing a quarter-final place, though the reports do not specify the exact points Italy need.

The squad Cisse joins

The 31-man selection spans three goalkeepers, ten defenders, ten midfielders and eight forwards. Cisse is listed among the forwards alongside Nicolo Cambiaghi (Bologna), Pio Esposito (Inter Milan), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Mattia Liberali (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli) and Nicolo Zaniolo (Udinese). The goalkeeping trio is Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City) and Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus).

What remains unknown

Neither outlet reports whether Cisse will make his senior debut against France or Belgium, or whether he will be limited to training-ground minutes. That question stays open until Italy’s coach names his lineup for the November 12 match in Milan.

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