Football Season Guide

Since their return to the Serie A in 2023/2024, Cagliari have been seriously flirting with relegation, which has been a constant under president Giulini. Last season, they won only 3 out of the initial 18 games and they seemed to be doomed for another return to the Serie B. Coach Nicola is famous for always leading his teams to safe shores, though, and he managed to succeed once again. In fact, come the New Year, he made sure his boys concentrated mainly against fellow salvation contenders and they won the games they had to win. They could even afford 3 defeats in the last 4 games and closed the season in the 15th place, 5 points above the relegation zone. Strangely enough, Nicola was let go and the management opted to hand the team to debuting 39-year-old Fabio Pisacane, who had led the Primavera team to an unexpected triumph in the Coppa Italia. Their transfer campaign has been mostly characterised by limiting the departures from the XI, while letting go of all the deadwood. First of all, in goal they retained starting Caprile, who did so well after joining on loan from Napoli, while Radunovic should be his deputy after a stint at Bari. At the back, key centre-back Mina opted to stay on and that is fundamental for them. Veroli, returning from loan, could get some playing time too, since Palomino returned to Argentina. With Augello gone, left-back Idrissi could become a protagonist in the long run. The midfield is the area which changed the most with starting Makoumbou and back-up Marin both gone, together with aging and injury-prone Viola. Adopo and Gaetano had their loans turned into permanent ones while Folorunsho will become a protagonist after a forgettable season at Napoli. In the attack, their top scorer Piccoli, capable of 11 goals and 4 assists, was signed permanently but he might be leaving. Therefore, they welcome Esposito, on loan from Inter, while Kilicsoy and Borrelli could get some playing time with Pavoletti in the wrong side of his 30s.