Ruben Amorim is increasingly minded to keep Alphadjo Cisse at Milan this season, even as Torino and Sassuolo push to take the young winger on loan, according to Antonio Vitiello.
Cisse arrived with a reputation built at Catanzaro, where he outshone Mattia Liberali before the latter joined Como, and the question was always how quickly he could translate that form to Milanello after returning from injury. Pre-season has answered part of it.
Deployed in the left No.10 role, Cisse has caught Amorim's eye, and the coach admitted after yesterday's match that he is looking at the winger as an option behind Rafael Leão. That is a notable place for a player who, only weeks ago, looked destined for a loan move to gain minutes.
The interest from elsewhere is real. According to Vitiello, both Torino and Sassuolo are pushing for a loan deal, but the situation has shifted with Amorim's growing conviction that Cisse belongs in the first-team picture.
"Torino and Sassuolo are pushing for the loan of Cisse. He would like to stay at Milan and Amorim is also more convinced about keeping him. Evaluations are still ongoing," Vitiello reported.
The player's own preference lines up with the coach's. Cisse wants to stay, and with Amorim now weighing him as cover in attack, the two Serie A suitors may find themselves looking elsewhere.
No decision has been finalised, and Vitiello is clear that the club is still assessing the options. From here, it comes down to whether Amorim values Cisse's minutes more in a Milan shirt or out on loan, and that call has yet to be made.