"Camarda will stay with us, no matter what." Ruben Amorim did not treat Francesco Camarda's new deal as routine contract business after AC Milan's 2-2 pre-season draw with Celtic. He turned it into a public squad decision as well, saying the forward will be part of Milan's group for the entire season. For a player who then scored twice after coming on, that is a far louder message than a signed document on its own.
Amorim's public commitment
Milan have renewed Camarda's contract until 30 June 2031, plus a one-year club option. On its own, that tells you the club see him as part of the future. Amorim's comments pushed it further by making this season part of the story too.
Speaking to goal.com, Amorim said: "Camarda will stay with us, no matter what. I have great faith in him and in our young players. I'm very happy with what they're showing; I think they have a great future at this club. I don't like to talk about individuals, but I can say with certainty that Camarda will be part of the squad for the entire season."
That is the clearest line Milan could have sent in public. A renewal can still sit in the background for a young player, especially one who spent the 2025-26 season at Lecce after making 12 Serie A appearances for Milan. Amorim removed that ambiguity himself.
Camarda's own reaction matched the tone. He told goal.com: "I work hard for the colors I love. Every time I step onto the pitch in training or a match, I give my all. I know I can't miss opportunities like this. I expect to improve a lot. I grew up at AC Milan and I'm proud of the step I've taken with my contract renewal. The coach's confidence? I'm happy."
The club angle matters here because Camarda has been on Milan's books since the age of eight. This is not being sold as a quick hype cycle. It is Milan tying down one of their own, then having the manager immediately shut down any noise about a move away this season.
Camarda's quick reply on the pitch
The timing helped. Camarda came on and scored twice within seven minutes in the second half against Celtic, first with a penalty in the 47th minute and then with a header six minutes later.
That kind of pre-season burst should not be overstated, but it did back up the confidence around him. It is easier for a manager to talk firmly about a young forward keeping his place in the squad when that player has just changed a game so quickly.
Martin O'Neil's view from the other side hinted at the swing after the break. He told Sky Sports: "In terms of pre-season, I really enjoyed it. I thought we did some really good things in the game. We just lost our concentration after half-time."
Celtic had enough threat of their own before that. Camilo Duran came into the game on a run of scoring in three straight matches, which helps explain why Milan were tested. Camarda's response was the part Milan will care about most.
Milan's wider picture is still unsettled
Amorim was not pretending one lively cameo solved everything. He said after the match: "I think it was a good training session. Of course, we still have a lot of work to do, but the lads tried to implement new ideas. We conceded precisely because of this, but I liked seeing a team that wants to change their identity a bit. We need to improve in some moments, especially in situations close to our goal, but that's normal."
That honesty fits Milan's recent league numbers. They have won one of their last five Serie A matches, scored 5 goals, conceded 8 and kept 1 clean sheet in that stretch. For all the attention on Camarda, Amorim is still inheriting a side that needs work at both ends.
He was even more specific on the pressing side, saying the squad do not yet fully understand the mentality required to press for most of the game. So the sensible read is not that Camarda's brace settles anything long term. It is that Milan have made two decisions very clear: they want him under contract until 2031, and they want him around the first-team squad this season.
For a young forward developed inside the club, that is a significant step. Milan got the paperwork done, Amorim made the squad stance public, and Camarda followed it with two goals against Celtic.
FAQ
Will Francesco Camarda stay at AC Milan this season?
Ruben Amorim was unusually clear after the draw with Celtic. He said Camarda will stay with Milan and will be part of the squad for the entire season. That gives the contract renewal extra weight, because the manager publicly shut down the idea of the teenager leaving during this campaign.
Why does Francesco Camarda's new Milan contract matter?
The renewal runs until 30 June 2031, with a one-year club option, but the bigger point is the message around it. Camarda has been with Milan since the age of eight, and Amorim followed the deal by saying he has great faith in him and expects him to stay in the squad all season.
How did Francesco Camarda perform against Celtic?
Camarda scored twice in the second half of Milan's 2-2 pre-season draw with Celtic. He converted a penalty in the 47th minute and then headed in six minutes later. Both goals came within seven minutes of his introduction, which backed up the excitement around his renewal.
Is Ruben Amorim already changing AC Milan's style?
Amorim says the process has started, but he also made clear that Milan are still learning. He said the squad has not fully understood the mentality of pressing for most of the game yet. Recent league numbers fit that view too: Milan have conceded 8 goals and kept 1 clean sheet in their last five Serie A matches.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
