Francesco Camarda’s limited involvement for both Milan and Italy U21s has prompted debate in Italy, with club team-mate Alphadjo Cisse seemingly moving ahead of him in the pecking order at San Siro and internationally.
Italy U21s face group leaders Poland on Monday evening in their final European Championship qualifier. They must win by two clear goals to finish top of the group and qualify directly for the finals.
Only group winners are guaranteed automatic qualification. Eight of the nine runners-up will enter an additional play-off round, while the best second-placed side will also progress directly to the final tournament.
Reports, including from Sky Sport Italia, suggest head coach Silvio Baldini is expected to select Cisse as the central striker against Poland rather than Camarda. Mattia Liberali and Luca Koleosho are expected to support him in attack.
Camarda, 18, started Italy U21s’ previous match against Armenia, but Poland represents a tougher and more significant test. If Baldini chooses Cisse for the decisive fixture, it would underline the current hierarchy within the squad.
The situation is also causing concern over Camarda’s lack of first-team football for Milan this season.
Milan paid a club-record fee to sign Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window. The Portugal international was the only centre-forward brought in by the club, leaving Camarda as the second-choice option in that position.
Despite loan interest from several Serie A clubs, Milan decided to retain Camarda in the first-team squad under Ruben Amorim.
However, after five matches of the 2026-27 season, plus another game in the Europa League, Camarda has played only eight minutes. Those minutes have come across two substitute appearances for the Rossoneri.
Cisse has been given considerably more involvement. He has made five appearances, accumulating 288 minutes, and has already scored two top-flight goals this term.
The two players do not occupy exactly the same role. Camarda is an out-and-out centre-forward, while Cisse normally operates in a different position. Nevertheless, Baldini’s apparent willingness to use Cisse through the middle in Italy U21s’ most important match of the year has intensified questions about Camarda’s standing.
Camarda had started the previous game for Italy U21s, but his lack of minutes at Milan means he has had little opportunity to build momentum during the opening stages of the campaign.
The decision to keep him at San Siro rather than allow him to leave on loan has therefore come under scrutiny, particularly with Ramos established as the club’s first-choice centre-forward and Cisse receiving regular opportunities.
For now, Camarda’s prospects with both Milan and Italy U21s appear less prominent than expected at the start of the season, while Cisse’s performances have strengthened his claim for a leading role.
