Alpha Cisse's Milan Journey and Italy Debut Delay

Alpha Cisse has lit up Milan’s season in flashes, but his wait for a senior Italy debut will go on.

The 19-year-old has made a habit of announcing himself on the biggest domestic stages. Both of his goals for Milan have arrived in Turin: the first against Torino, the club’s opening strike of the campaign; the second at Juventus, again from a near-identical pocket of space after coming off the bench. Same city, same ruthlessness, growing reputation.

Those finishes sparked talk of a rapid promotion. Cisse has already featured twice for Italy’s U21s, and his form for the Rossoneri fuelled whispers that he could be fast-tracked into Roberto Mancini’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Not yet.

According to MilanNews, Mancini is tracking Cisse closely, with technical director Claudio Ranieri also intent on monitoring his development. The interest is real, the files are open, the conversations are happening.

But when Italy’s squad list drops for the Nations League, Cisse’s name will not be on it. Instead, he will link up again with the U21s during the international break, as they prepare to face Poland and Armenia.

The expectation around Coverciano is that an Azzurri call-up will come. On form and profile, it could easily have been now. Such a decision would have signalled a bold reset, a clear message that Italy are ready to accelerate change and move away from the old, cautious approach.

That statement has been postponed. And for many watching Cisse’s rise, that delay stings.