PHOTO
From Catanzaro to the senior Italy squad, via the Under-21s. Just five months ago, Alphadjo Cisse and Mattia Liberali were team-mates at Catanzaro in Serie B. Yesterday, they walked through the gates of Coverciano for the first time, ready to begin another chapter together. Having already represented Italy at various youth levels, including Silvio Baldini's Under-21 side, the pair have now been reunited on senior international duty. Their rise is a testament not only to their talent, but also to the experience they gained during their season together in Calabria, which helped pave the way for their moves to Milan and Como in Serie A.
"The decision to join Catanzaro was an easy one," Cisse explained at the press conference. "Polito and Aquilani wanted me there, and I needed regular playing time."
"My year at Catanzaro was a great experience," added Liberali. "But it was really difficult at first because I barely played in the opening months. You have to make the most of your opportunities, and eventually my hard work paid off. I need to keep going because this is only the beginning." Now, their focus is on Italy. "It's fantastic to be here," they agreed. "It's an honour. Our first impressions have been really positive, and everyone has made us feel very welcome." The pair then joked about each other's strengths and weaknesses. "I'd say his biggest strength is his ability to play those defence-splitting passes, that final ball," Alphadjo said. "As for a weakness, maybe he's a bit sensitive. "Well, if you send him a message, he'll reply three days later," Liberali laughed. "He's in a world of his own. But that's also one of his strengths because he can shut everything else out on the pitch. He plays with a real sense of freedom, and you can see that."
A DREAM START AT MILAN. Born in Treviso in October 2006 to parents of Guinean origin, Cisse joined Verona's youth academy in 2020 and worked his way up to the first team, making his Serie A debut at just 17. A move to Catanzaro followed and, just as he appeared on the verge of joining Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, Milan stepped in to secure his permanent signing for a fee close to €10 million, allowing him to remain in Calabria until the end of the season. Catanzaro's campaign ended in defeat to Monza in the play-off final, but Cisse's season had already been cut short in February by a torn adductor tendon in his right thigh. Anyone who thought the injury might derail his progress was soon proved wrong. "The injury was a difficult time for me, but I was determined to arrive at Milanello and do well. That belief really helped me."
Alphadjo has made rapid progress at Milan, quickly earning the trust of Ruben Amorim. He has scored eight goals so far this season, including five in Serie A, making him the Rossoneri's joint-top scorer alongside Adrien Rabiot. "At Milan, winning is both a priority and an expectation. It's right to aim for the Scudetto, but we can't afford to neglect any competition. I always want to prove myself and show what I can do. I want to keep that hunger. It's been an intense few months, and I hope there are many more to come." As for his position on the pitch, regular playing time matters more than where he plays. "I can play anywhere across the front line. There are so many talented young players coming through in Italy at the moment, and clubs are making more of an effort to put their faith in them."
Cisse grew up idolising Pogba, Seedorf and Mario Balotelli ("he's always been someone I've looked up to in the national team"), and is now learning how to read the game better from Modric. He has always played with a sense of freedom, an approach that has stayed with him even as expectations continue to rise week after week. "I enjoy the pressure, and I think I can handle it. There are some top players here, including European Championship winners, and you have to respect that. It's about taking things one step at a time. Right now, my focus is on making my debut, and we'll see what happens after that." He could make his debut at the Meazza on Thursday. "France need no introduction, but Italy always go out to win. Qualifying should be a given for Italy."
FABREGAS AND MANCINI: LEARNING FROM THE BEST. For a gifted young player with exceptional technique and creativity, there can be few better mentors than Cesc Fabregas and Roberto Mancini. Mattia Liberali knows that better than most. Unlike Cisse, he came through Milan's youth academy and made his Serie A debut for the Rossoneri two years ago. After gaining valuable experience at Catanzaro, he joined Como, who beat Milan to his signature. "I don't regret leaving Milan. It wasn't an easy decision because the club had been part of my life since I was a child, but you have to be confident in your decisions and not look back. I'm really happy for Cisse and how well he's doing. Everyone has their own path to follow."
Liberali has yet to establish himself as a regular starter at Como, but he is gradually earning more playing time. Last week, he scored his first Champions League goal in the emphatic victory over Lens. "The step up from Serie B to the intensity of Serie A and the Champions League hasn't been easy. Fabregas has helped me enormously and shown a lot of faith in me. Things are going really well with him and with the rest of the squad, who have been fantastic. So much has happened in such a short space of time. It's been an incredible week, the best of my life." Part of Italy's European Under-17 Championship-winning side in 2024, Mattia has risen through the national youth ranks. Now he has reached the senior squad and could find himself lining up against none other than Kylian Mbappé on Thursday. "France have some world-class players, there's no doubt about that, so it should be a great game. But we believe we can qualify and we'll give it everything we've got." Asked which Italian players have inspired him, Liberali had two names in mind: "Coach Mancini, who's a great role model. I've always admired Totti as well."
ZANIOLO LEAVES TRAINING CAMP. Nicolò Zaniolo has left the Italy training camp for personal reasons.
DONNARUMMA HONOURED AS AMBASSADOR FOR KINDNESS IN SPORT. Gianluigi Donnarumma has been presented with the ‘Costruiamo Gentilezza nello Sport’ (Building Kindness in Sport) award at Coverciano. For his wedding, the Italy goalkeeper asked guests to make donations to help young patients at a hospital in Naples rather than give traditional gifts. Launched in 2022, the award was inspired by a gesture of kindness from fellow Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who welcomed a family fleeing war into his home. The initiative was created by Gaia Simonetti and is a joint effort between USSI Toscana, led by president Franco Morabito, and Luca Nardi's Associazione Costruiamo Gentilezza. Donnarumma received the official Ambassador shirt from Gaia Simonetti, who oversees the award on behalf of USSI Toscana. Designed by children, who are playing an increasingly active role in recognising and highlighting acts of kindness, the shirt features Nelson Mandela's famous words on the back: "Sport has the power to change the world."
THE FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus);
Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Marco Palestra (Chelsea), Matteo Palma (Udinese), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Riccardo Cassano (Como), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Simone Lontani (Parma), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Como), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham);
Forwards: Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna), Alphadjo Cisse (Milan), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), Mattia Liberali (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli).
