AC Milan easily beat Cagliari 4-1 in the Coppa Italia last 16 tie on Tuesday night, but that wasn’t the biggest story of the night.Ivorian youngster Chaka Traore scored in his first senior appearance for Milan, just ten days after turning 19. What a journey!Serbian misfit Luka Jovic already scored twice for a mix-and-match Milan XI against Claudio Ranieri’s Rossoblu in the first half, all but securing safe passage into the Italian Cup next round. But Traore did well to bundle the ball over the line from close range for a memorable moment which will live long in the memory of his boy.
Rafael Leao, who spent the night on the substitutes’ bench, praised Traore earlier in the season – and will undoubtedly have many more nice things to say about the youngster. Traore was replaced with 20 minutes left, getting a big applause from the San Siro crowd, a huge hug from his substitute for the night, Rafael Leao, and congratulations from Milan boss Stefano Pioli. He passed the exam with flying colours!Cagliari managed to score a consolation goal against Milan’s backup goalie Antonio Mirante, but Leao managed to score in added time to get his first goal for the Rossoneri since 23 September 2023 to seal a comfortable 4-1 win.The story of Traore is intricate and filled with challenges. Born in Ivory Coast, he embarked on a perilous journey in 2015 when he was just 11, boarding a small boat from Africa’s north coast with the intent of reaching Italy.##NAJAVA_MECA_37914##Upon arrival in Italy, Traore, travelling under a false name as Cisse in his passport, and his agent, who was later found guilty of assisting illegal immigration, were en route to Parma. Despite facing numerous hurdles, the then 11-year-old managed to sustain himself through various part-time jobs until he was noticed by U.S. Audace – an esteemed academy club in the provincial capital.Leão 🫂 Chaka Traore Bravo Rafa @RafaeLeao7 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1NqPBSCfAD— Best of Rafael Leão (@BestofLeao) January 2, 2024 However, his arrival in Italy raised questions about his age, prompting legal inquiries and a court suspension to resolve his status as a non-European Union player. During the 2017 regional amateur championships, Parma scout Andrea Monica spotted Traore.##NAJAVA_MECA_7775490##Following Monica’s recommendation, Fausto Pizzi, the head of Parma’s youth academy, was impressed after just a single training session and promptly signed Traore for their U17 team. This turn of events marked a significant breakthrough for the talented kid, highlighting his resilience and talent despite the challenging circumstances he had faced.Chaka Traorè 💪🏾⚽️🇨🇮#MilanCagliari #SempreMilan #CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa pic.twitter.com/12Cn39PO8n— AC Milan BR (@acmilanbr) January 2, 2024 It was the first big step in Traore’s professional career, which has just seen him net his first senior goal for one of Europe’s most eminent clubs. The ceiling is high for this boy – and he’s working hard to find just how high it is.COPPA ITALIA1/8 FINALSTuesdayMilan – Cagliari 4-1 (2-0)/Jovic 29, 42, Traore 50, Leao 90+1 – Azzi 88/Wednesday20:00: (1.55) Atalanta (4.10) Sassuolo (6.00)23:00: (1.37) Roma (4.80) Cremonese (9.00)Thursday23:00: (1.33) Juventus (5.10) Salernitana (9.50)***odds are subject to change***