Former Cisse coach hails Milan starlet: 'Does things that others don't'
Quick summary
A coach who previously worked with Djibril Cisse has publicly praised a young AC Milan player, highlighting the starlet's unique qualities on the pitch.
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Attributed to original sourcePaolo Sammarco has praised Milan youngster Alphadjo Cisse after the teenager continued his rapid rise by scoring against Juventus, recalling the qualities that made him stand out during his time at Hellas Verona.
Cisse has quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing young talents in Italian football, with his performances attracting increasing attention at senior level. His latest goal came against Juventus , further underlining the potential that Sammarco and his former coaching staff identified several years ago.
Sammarco, who previously coached both Verona’s first team and Primavera, believes Cisse’s progress is ultimately down to the player himself, despite the support he received during his development in Verona.
“I am proud and extremely happy because he is a boy who deserves it,” Sammarco told Radio Sportiva, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb . “We only helped the talent that we spotted at Verona.
“Me, the staff and director Margiotta did our part, but ultimately it is all down to him.”
Sammarco also highlighted the contribution of Alberto Aquilani, who worked with Cisse at Catanzaro after already knowing the youngster and pushing for his arrival.
“Aquilani at Catanzaro, who knew him and strongly wanted him, also managed to bring out the talent that we had all seen,” Sammarco added.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Alphadjo Cisse of AC Milan passes the ball during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images) Sammarco: ‘Cisse does things others don’t’ For Sammarco, Cisse’s ability to anticipate situations on the pitch was already evident during his time in Verona, with his technical quality complemented by an impressive physical presence.
“Cisse does things that others don’t,” he explained.
“That is what Alpha did. He saw passes and moves much earlier than others, and all of this came with physical strength and technique.
“The difference compared to his teammates was quite evident. Even when he trained with the first team, he did great things in training as well.”
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 28: Alphadjo Cisse of Milan is challenged by Joel Schingtienne and Kike Perez of Venezia during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Venezia FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Those qualities have now begun to translate onto the biggest stage, with Cisse showing that the talent identified during his formative years can also make an impact in senior football.
Sammarco is delighted to see his former pupil taking that next step and believes his latest performances are confirmation that the qualities he displayed as a youngster were genuine.
“We are happy, and I am personally happy that he is demonstrating it at the very highest levels,” he concluded.
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What happened
A former coach of French striker Djibril Cisse has offered glowing praise for a young AC Milan talent, singling out the youngster for performing actions that set him apart from his peers. The endorsement adds to the growing reputation of Milan's youth academy product, who has been drawing attention for his distinctive playing style. While light on concrete details, the comments reflect the kind of external validation that often fuels hype around emerging Italian talents.
Chance analysis
Endorsements from experienced coaches carry weight in football culture, and when someone with a track record of developing forwards singles out a teenage prospect, it tends to turn heads. For AC Milan, whose academy has a long lineage of producing top talent, this kind of external validation reinforces the club's reputation as a developer of distinctive young players. Whether the praise translates into first-team minutes or a breakout season remains to be seen, but the narrative around the starlet now has an extra layer of credibility attached to it.
Positive external validation for a young AC Milan player, likely boosting confidence and increasing expectations around his first-team role.