Camarda concern: Overtaken by Milan teammate for club and country?

Francesco Camarda scores from the penalty spot during a pre-season friendly between Celtic and Milan at Celtic Park (via www.acmilan.com)

Questions are being asked in Italy regarding teenage talent Francesco Camarda and the lack of opportunities that he has received for club and country in the early stages of the 2026-27 season, as his Milan teammate Alphadjo Cisse appears to have overtaken him in the pecking order in San Siro and for the Italy U21s.

Has Cisse overtaken Camarda for Milan and Italy?

The Italy U21 side is in action on Monday evening in a crucial European Championship qualifier against group leaders Poland. 

This Italy’s final match in qualifying, and ahead of kick-off, they require a victory by two clear goals to overtake Poland into first place. Only the first-placed teams in qualification will qualify directly for the final tournament. Eight of the nine second-placed teams will have to go through an additional play-off round, although the best second-placed team will also qualify directly for the final tournament. 

According to various reports on Monday, including from Sky Sport Italia, Italy U21s head coach Silvio Baldini is expected to field breakthrough star Cisse as the centre-forward against Poland instead of Camarda. He is expected to be joined by Mattia Liberali and Luca Koleosho in the attack. 

This has raised questions from some supporters and media outlets regarding the chances that Camarda is getting for both club and country this season. 

The 18-year-old did start for the Italy U21s in their most recent match against Armenia, but Poland is considered the tougher and more important game, and if Baldini decides to field Cisse over Camarda, it seems a clear indication of the current pecking order. 

Perhaps more concerning for Camarda is his minutes at club level. 

Milan spent a club record fee to sign Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain over the summer transfer window. The Portugal international was the only centre-forward that Milan brought in during the summer, which means that Camarda is currently the second-choice option at centre-forward. 

The club decided to keep him with Ruben Amorim in the Rossoneri first-team despite loan interest from several Serie A clubs during the window. 

But, after five matches of the 2026-27 season and another in the Europa League, Camarda has played for just eight minutes across two substitute appearances for the Rossoneri this season. 

His teammate Cisse, meanwhile, has made five appearances for a total of 288 minutes this season and has already provided two top-flight goals this term. 

Granted, Cisse does not play in the exact same position as Camarda, an out-and-out centre-forward, but the fact that Baldini seems prepared to field Cisse at centre-forward for the Italy U21s’ most crucial game of the year paints a slightly concerning picture for the highly-rated Camarda.