International football has offered Ruben Amorim a rare measure of encouragement before Milan enter a demanding October. Fifteen players left Milanello during the extended break, and while Luka Modric endured two difficult matches against Spain and England, conceding 11 goals in total, several younger Rossoneri returned with reasons to believe that their season can still gather momentum.
The coach and the club
Milan will have much at stake in the coming weeks, and Amorim’s attention will turn to those who used the break to strengthen their case. Gonçalo Ramos, Alpha Cisse, Davide Bartesaghi, Diego Moreira and Yunus Musah all made useful impressions for their national sides, each in a different role.
Ramos was the most productive in front of goal. He had not scored for Milan since August, but Portugal brought out a sharper return: three goals across four appearances, all Portugal victories. He struck twice against Erling Haaland’s Norway and added another against Denmark.
The finishes came in varied forms, including a toe-poke, a simple close-range effort and a chipped finish. Yet his contribution was not limited to scoring. Ramos continued to work with his back to goal, link play and create room for runners, including a notable backheel that helped Bruno Fernandes score against Denmark.
That profile may matter to Amorim. Ramos can connect Milan’s attacks, but he benefits from quick teammates moving beyond him. Christian Pulisic remains the clearest such outlet; identifying another regular runner around the Portuguese forward is one of the questions facing the coach.
Cisse turns an Under-21 campaign
Alpha Cisse played a central part in Italy Under-21 securing qualification for the next European Championship. His late winner in Yerevan against Armenia gave Silvio Baldini’s side a decisive advantage before their meeting with Poland.
With two minutes remaining, Cisse curled a left-footed strike into the top corner. It was his third goal of the campaign after earlier Serie A strikes against Torino and Juventus.
He was then used as a centre-forward against Poland, ahead of Francesco Camarda, who is Ramos’s deputy at Milan but has found limited playing time. Cisse’s own opportunities should grow, particularly with Alexis Saelemaekers ruled out through injury until next year.
The 19-year-old, who was still playing in Serie B last season, is now in contention for a place alongside Pulisic in Milan’s attacking midfield positions.
Bartesaghi sees an opening
Bartesaghi returns to Milanello after an encouraging display at full-back for Italy Under-21 against Poland. His start to the club season has been less smooth: he began only two matches across Serie A and the Europa League, and was substituted in both.
Amorim has preferred Estupinan in Milan’s bigger fixtures, including those against Lazio and Juventus, despite the Ecuadorian appearing likely to leave as recently as July. Bartesaghi does not naturally fit the fast, attacking wide-player mould associated with Amorim’s preferences.
However, Estupinan has suffered a knee injury, creating a possible opening for Bartesaghi when Milan travel to Reggio Emilia to face Sassuolo.
Moreira’s versatility and Musah’s standing
Diego Moreira was a near-constant selection for Belgium in the Nations League. He missed only the match with Turkey because of suspension, starting the other fixtures on both flanks in a 4-2-3-1 system.
Against Italy, his acceleration and dribbling gave Riccardo Calafiori a difficult evening. Moreira entered the break after scoring three times in three Serie A matches. He did not add to that tally with Belgium, but returns with greater confidence and a stronger claim for continuity.
Amorim has already used him on the right, on the left and as an attacking midfielder during the opening two months. The next task is to give Moreira a more settled role.
Musah’s international break was unusual in a different way. Mauricio Pochettino handed him the United States number 10 shirt for the first time in the 4-1 win over Peru, a match in which Gianluca Lapadula scored. Musah retained the shirt for the 4-2 victory over Chile but remained an unused substitute, then played the final 25 minutes in the third win, against Mexico.
The number may not reflect Musah’s usual game. He is valued less for elegant passing than for his energy, ground covered and capacity to contribute at both ends. At Milan, he has become one of Amorim’s most trusted midfielders, starting every match except against Lazio, where his introduction changed the contest, and Lecce.
Having struggled for minutes at Atalanta last season, Musah has become a dependable presence in the Rossoneri midfield. Goals remain rare, but they are not the measure by which Amorim judges his importance.
