Europe is part of the Rossoneri tradition, a past of which Ruben Amorim is fully aware. A long international history to which the coach will try to bring a touch of novelty: the Milan team taking the field tonight will be a very young one. A sort of Rossoneri Under-21 side, featuring Bartesaghi, Cisse, Camarda and Hutchinson's continued involvement in Europe.
Youth represents innovation, and Amorim looks to the future with confidence: Bartesaghi will get another opportunity after initially finding himself squeezed between Estupinan and Moreira; Cisse is looking for more nights in the spotlight, while Camarda is seeking his first real night as a Diavolo.
"Come on, Camarda"
Against Salzburg, a model when it comes to developing talent, Milan will showcase their golden boys. The opponents' average age is 23, while that of the Rossoneri players on the pitch is 24.6: Maignan, Rabiot and Loftus-Cheek push that figure up, but the point remains that this will be a very young Milan side.
The youngsters have courage, as does their coach: Amorim, born in 1985, is seeking European redemption with a group of young players and a couple of teenagers, Cisse and Camarda, aged 19 and 18 respectively.
For Camarda, this is just the beginning: his first start of the season, his first start in Europe, and the pursuit of his first international goal. In his 18 appearances for the Rossoneri, only once before had he started a match away from San Siro: that was in Cagliari in November 2024, with his mother and father watching from the stands.
Now he has grown up: he will head out on his own in search of a special night. This season, he has played just eight minutes across two brief substitute appearances: five minutes in Rome against Lazio and three in the closing stages of Milan-Lecce.
Cisse's recent story is different. He emerged as a starter in the first match of the year in Turin (and scored), became a hero after coming off the bench against Juventus, and started against Venezia, Lazio and Benfica, as relayed via La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
The attack will belong to them, following their rotation of roles with Italy's youth team: in the Under-21s' final match to secure qualification for the European Championship at that level, Cisse was the centre-forward and Camarda the backup No. 9. The final 6-2 victory over Poland (white shirts and red shorts) secured Italy's qualification.
Today, Milan's young Italian talents will face the red-and-white Salzburg side...
Amorim, as mentioned, has faith in them:
"Camarda is doing extremely well. He earned his place during summer preparations, he has done his work and he will get his opportunity. You can see that we have structured the squad to leave room for these young players: Cisse is already playing, Camarda has played a few minutes, he is ready to take the field and he is confident too. In the coming weeks, he will get more minutes. He loves playing for Milan."
It first happened on November 25, 2023, against Fiorentina, an occasion that made him the youngest debutant in the entire history of the Rossoneri, at 15 years and 260 days old. History, indeed: ready to be renewed.
The other Milan talents
Alongside them is another forward with his entire future still ahead of him: 22-year-old Omari Hutchinson.
Amorim is giving him another opportunity after his first start in the opening European match: he played the 45 minutes of the first half before being replaced by Pulisic.
Bartesaghi will also be seen again, having started only twice this season, against Venezia and the familiar Benfica.
Among the outstanding young talents is also Christian Comotto, one of the revelations of last season's Serie B campaign at Spezia.
A Rossoneri through and through, he is another product of the youth academy. He has won over Amorim (and Cardinale, who spoke enthusiastically about him after his contract extension until 2031) and is looking for playing time alongside his idol Modric (for Luka, who has taken him under his wing, he is "il niño," "the kid") and the experienced Rabiot.
The coach insists there will be opportunities on the pitch for him too:
"It's true that Comotto isn't playing at the moment, but we have to give these youngsters opportunities because sometimes they can surprise you, given that they are part of the squad and train every day alongside the other players.
"He, too, is doing very, very well. We have to understand that he was playing in Serie B, and now he is at Milan, where even a draw is a disaster: you have to be ready for that aspect as well.
"We have many players in midfield and will have to rotate a lot. Sometimes, making the most of opportunities is also a matter of luck."
Fortune favours the bold, and Comotto certainly seems to be one of them.
