Cisse: ‘I like pressure, Balotelli my Italy role model’

Alphadjo Cisse during a press conference at Coverciano on November 10, 2026 (Football Italia)

Milan starlet Alphadjo Cisse says Mario Balotelli is ‘without a doubt’ his role model as an Italian player, reveals the Rossoneri teammate who has impressed him the most and explains why he likes to deal with pressure.

Cisse held a press conference at Coverciano today. He joined his ex-Catanzaro teammate Mattia Liberali, who has also received his first senior Azzurri call-up in the current break.

Cisse is currently Italy’s top club scorer, having netted eight times across all competitions for Milan.

“I have the desire to always prove myself, to stay hungry, and to show my qualities. It’s been an intense few months, and I hope to have many more like them,” he said during his press conference, attended by Football Italia, today.

“Liberali’s biggest strength is definitely his play: his through balls and final pass are among his best qualities. As for a defect, I’d say he can be a bit touchy at times,” he replied smiling, when asked about Liberali’s qualities and shortcomings.

Cisse spent several months on the sidelines last season while on loan at Catanzaro.

“The injury was a difficult moment, but rehabilitation brought a positive shift. I handled it well; I approached the injury in the right way, and by the time I arrived at Milanello, my confidence was high,” he said.

“I chose Catanzaro because I wanted playing time, and both the coach and the sporting director wanted me.

“I can play in every position. I don’t know if I can say which one I prefer, but I can play anywhere in attacking areas.

“Being here is wonderful and comes with great responsibility. We’ve only been here a few days, but the impact has been very positive. We’ll have the chance to get to know each other even better in the coming days,” he added.

When asked about the Milan teammate who has impressed him the most so far, he replied: “Luka [Modric] would be too obvious, so I’ll say Mario [Gila].”

Milan coach Ruben Amorim has shown his trust in Cisse, and the promising Italian attacker is enjoying his time at the club.

“My Milan teammates welcomed me very well. There’s a big difference between Serie B and Serie A, but my teammates’ welcome made it easy to settle in,” he said.

“I owe a lot to Aquilani, who gave me great confidence. I’m sorry things didn’t work out for him at Sassuolo, but I’d bet he’ll have a great career as a coach.

“Quality makes the difference. Many young players are emerging in Italy now, more than in the past,” he continued.

“At Milan, I think winning is always the priority, whether it’s the Scudetto or any other competition. That’s the norm. Neglecting one competition for another isn’t right. At Milan, you have to try to win everything.”

Cisse mentioned Alberto Aquilani as an influential coach in his career, but who has had the biggest impact on his professional career so far?

“I don’t think it’s fair to give one person more credit than others,” he replied.

“In the first few months last year, Aquilani had a huge influence on me, but I owe a lot to everyone. [U21]Coach Baldini leaves a lasting impression. He’s a great person. I like pressure; it motivates me to do better.”

Cisse recently scored his first goals at San Siro and will return to the Milanese stadium in just two days, where he could make his senior Azzurri debut.

“The coach will make the decision. Returning to San Siro with the national team would be even more special. I’m very ambitious, and playing for the national team is a source of pride,” he said.

“As I said before, I think I have broad shoulders. Many players on the national team have been here a long time and have also won the European Championship. I respect them, and we have to take things step by step. My first thought is to make my debut, and then we’ll think about everything else later.

“France needs no introduction. Italy must always aim to win; that should be the norm for the Italian national team.”

Lastly, Cisse named his undisputed role model as an Italy international.

“Without a doubt, I’d say Balotelli. He’s always been a role model for me on the national team,” he concluded.