Amorim Declares Cissé 'Ready' for Italy — and Jokes the Criticism Beats Even Man Utd: 'More Is Impossible'

Milan boss Ruben Amorim has thrown his full weight behind Aphadjo Cissé as the teenager stands on the brink of a landmark first Italy call-up, declaring the midfielder 'ready' for international football with the World Cup 2026 looming large on the horizon. Speaking to reporters, as reported by Football Italia, Amorim painted a picture of a player whose maturity belies his years. 'He is ready,' the Milan coach insisted, pointing to the composure, physicality and tactical discipline Cissé has showcased during a breakout stretch at San Siro. In Amorim's view, a first senior call-up is not a gamble but simply the next logical step for a youngster who has answered every question asked of him this season. The Portuguese coach could not resist a wry smile, however, when the conversation turned to the scrutiny surrounding his young charge. Invoking his own bruising spell in the Manchester United hot seat, Amorim joked that the criticism now swirling has reached levels beyond even what he experienced at Old Trafford. 'More is impossible,' he deadpanned — a one-liner that drew laughter from the assembled press while underlining the absurd weight of expectation being placed on a player still in the opening chapters of his career. For Italy, the timing could hardly be more significant. With the countdown to the 2026 World Cup well and truly underway, the national team's staff are combing Serie A for fresh legs and fresh ideas, and few profiles are as intriguing as Cissé's. A powerful, ball-carrying midfielder who is comfortable in tight spaces, he offers a blend of dynamism and control that could prove invaluable in the demanding summer conditions expected across North America. Amorim's public backing also functions as a shield. By framing the call-up as earned rather than premature, the Milan boss has shifted the narrative away from hype and onto performance — precisely the environment in which young players tend to flourish. He made clear that the midfielder has warranted the opportunity through his weekly displays, and that the rest is now firmly in the player's hands. Whether Cissé becomes a footnote or a fixture in Italy's World Cup story remains to be written, but his club coach has left no ambiguity about where he stands. Ready, in Amorim's eyes, is not a hope — it is a statement of fact. And if the teenager can tune out the noise the way his mentor learned to during the Manchester United pressure-cooker, Italy may have unearthed a gem at precisely the right moment. For now, the message from San Siro is simple: the talent is there, the temperament is there, and as far as Ruben Amorim is concerned, the stage is set.