Perhaps, he’s just starting to realize what’s happened. Moustapha Cisse will surely remember forever that on Sunday 20 March 2022 he didn’t only make his Serie A debut but actually embellished it, scoring a crucial goal that gave his team, Atalanta, a victory.
“Above all, I’m happy I helped the team. It’s an exciting feeling for me. I still can’t believe that someone like me was called up for the first time, played the first match in Serie A, scored and won three points for the team”.
It’s a great joy. The ability to be in the right place at the right time and to make the most of Pašalić’s assist making a perfect finish…
“Everyone’s been telling me that it’s a great goal but it’s fruits of our work here. So, it’s important for the lads, for the Club, too. It’s a pleasure for me to help the team in this way at this moment”.
He dedicated his first Serie A goal to his mother.
“I dedicated my first goal to my mum, who had told me to make a gesture for her when I’d have scored. I don’t know if you saw me making this gesture, it was for her. When I talked to her before the match, she said: We’re all proud of you, We’re with you. So, do what you do. Everything’s going to be fine“.
Moustapha Cisse’s story began at the ASD Rinascita Refugees in Lecce, at the team of migrants and refugees formed by the cooperative that’s been hosting refugees for years in Apulia. It’s where he was noticed by Atalanta.
“I used to watch Atalanta on the TV in Lecce. Their 2020 season was impressive. It was the moment I got to know Atalanta. Then they came to play against Lecce, I went to see the match [Lecce v Atalanta]. When I was told that Atalanta’s manager came to see me, I was like no, you’re kidding me. They told me they were serious. My friends and I used to play football just to have fun in the summer. So, I was told that Atalanta invited me for a test in Bergamo. And now I’m here at Atalanta. I don’t have words to describe it!”.
In Bergamo Mousta trains and plays with the Primavera team with whom he scored his first goals in the Nerazzurri shirt. Then he was called up to the First team.
“That morning I went to train as usual with the Primavera. The coach called me and said: Mousta you’re not with us today, you’re joining the First Team. Coach Gasperini called and said that he needed Cisse.
I stood there for a moment to figure out if it was true, if it was really true. And then he [the coach] said: It’s true, you deserve it, so, go and do what you do, no pressure, everything’s going to be alright”.
Football is his great passion, just a way to have fun. It may be something more for Cisse now.
“My first call-up was against Genoa, I was on the bench. When the coach told me: Mousta, start to warm up. I sat there as I didn’t believe it. I thought I would have entered the pitch and played only 2-5 minutes on my Serie A debut. When the coach told me: Mousta, go and warm up, after only 10 minutes in the second half, I told myself: It’s impossible. But I left all the feelings aside to take advantage of the moment because it was an opportunity. So, I thought it was time for me to grasp that opportunity and to give everything I could”.
Mousta is young but very pragmatic and realistic.
“Now I must keep on working as it’s true that scoring a goal in Serie A is great, but it’s only the beginning. So, I must keep on working if I want everyone to keep talking like this and be happy. I have to keep on working and do the right thing in order to make progress”.