AC Milan's New Star Shines Bright, Raising Competition for Pulisic
The 2026-2027 Serie A season kicked off with an exciting first weekend, showcasing intense matches and emerging talents. Inter, the defending champions, dominated Monza with a convincing 4-1 victory on Saturday. The following day, AC Milan edged out Torino 2-1, Juventus secured a narrow 1-0 win over Frosinone, and Napoli triumphed 2-0 against Genoa. One standout performer was AC Milan's Alphadjo Cisse, who scored the opening goal against Torino. The 19-year-old winger impressed coach Ruben Amorim, who noted, "I'm in love with him." With Rafael Leao sidelined due to injury and Christian Pulisic still regaining fitness, Cisse seizes a prime opportunity to establish himself as the starting left winger. Amorim is expected to start Cisse again when AC Milan hosts Venezia on Friday, signaling a potential shift in the team's dynamics. Meanwhile, Pulisic, recovering from a microfracture sustained during the USMNT's last World Cup match, remains versatile and likely to see playing time, depending on Amorim's tactical decisions. On the other side, Inter's Andy Diouf emerged as an unexpected star, contributing two assists in their match against Monza. Coach Cristian Chivu has utilized Diouf effectively in a right wing-back role, despite his background as a central midfielder, showcasing his adaptability in Inter's 3-5-2 system. In contrast, Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti faced criticism for his remarks about striker Randal Kolo Muani, who failed to score in his debut. Spalletti's comments could have repercussions, as Kolo Muani is pivotal to the team's success following the departure of Dusan Vlahovic to Besiktas. Spalletti's choice of words may risk alienating a key player at the start of the season.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-08-24