Barcelona beaten as AC Milan hijack deal for highly-rated teenage defender | OneFootball

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have suffered a setback in their recruitment plans after losing out on the signing of highly rated 18-year-old defender El Hadji Malick Cisse.

The Senegalese centre-back had been on Barcelona’s radar for several months as the club continues to strengthen its youth setup. 

With multiple changes expected at academy level, Barça are preparing to welcome several new arrivals in the coming weeks, including Hamza Abdelkarim, Ajay Tavares, and Juwensley Onstein.

Amid those movements, Malick Cisse had emerged as a serious option for the Catalan club. 

The defender was seen as a player with strong physical presence, leadership qualities, and room for long-term development. 

However, despite Barcelona’s interest, the young centre-back has now chosen a different path.

AC Milan win the race

Reports indicate that AC Milan have successfully secured his signature. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by El Hadj Malick Cissé 🫠💥 (@malick_cisse_6)

The Italian giants plan to initially place him with their reserve side, allowing him time to adapt to European football while continuing his development in a competitive environment. 

As such, Cisse is not an unknown name to Barcelona. In November 2024, he underwent a trial with the club as part of Barça’s cooperation agreement with Be Sport Academy, a training centre based in Dakar. 

The feedback from that trial was reportedly positive, but no move was finalised.

Meanwhile, Milan had already taken detailed notes on the defender after his performances at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he captained Senegal U-17. 

Lastly, Barcelona were not the only club monitoring his situation, as RB Leipzig, known for identifying and developing African talent, had also expressed interest. 

Ultimately, however, Milan moved fastest, leaving Barcelona to regroup and explore alternative defensive options for the future.