Of Giuseppe Amisani
The final squeeze is near. So much so that the long-awaited announcement should arrive this week that he will give the green light to Davide Nicola’s adventure on the Cagliari bench. Surprises are always around the corner when the market is open but now the game seems to be over. Because there has already been an agreement between the Sardinian club and the coach leaving Empoli for a few weeks. What is missing is the green light from the Tuscan team who, before letting their coach go, want on the one hand to find a valid alternative and on the other hope to be able to obtain some advantage. One above all could be a significant discount on the purchase of Razvan Marin who has formally just returned to the rossoblù following Empoli’s failure to redeem him. The Romanian player’s salary, however, is out of reach for the island club’s coffers and for this reason the director remains on the list of departures. The Tuscans would not like to deprive him but hope that the negotiation can be conducted on a more contained track than that linked to the redemption. In this case, if an agreement is reached, Nicola could be left free to start his new adventure.
And it would be a good card chosen by Cagliari for after Ranieri. It was certainly not easy to find a technician worthy of Sir Claudio. And the various castings carried out by the Sardinian club were not successful. Up to the idea of Nicola who, due to his technical characteristics and temperament, can try to keep up the enthusiasm of a place that has been left quite shaken by the farewell of the Roman coach. The two consecutive miracles have left their mark in the history of Cagliari but above all in the hearts of the fans who now hope to soon see the void left by Ranieri filled.
The almost former Empoli coach could succeed thanks to his great dedication to leading the various teams he has coached. To which, obviously, the results must also be combined. The priority remains to close the matter quickly because only after having put the name of the new coach in the safe will it be possible to think about reinforcements. Some names are starting to circulate but, as it should be, nothing will be closed without the approval of the new rossoblù helmsman. The certainty is that he will be a young, brilliant and cheeky Cagliari. Ready to amaze the island fans.
But there will also be no shortage of elements of experience, led by captain Pavoletti, fresh from the two-year renewal of his contract. Lapadula will be another man to focus on, also to better develop young players like Luvumbo and Kingstone who, like the others, are in the first team situation (Obert, Prati, Sulemana, Kourfalidis and Veroli). And Viola could also be given a new chance as he will end his experience in Sardinia in a few days but could soon be called up to arms. Some situations must then be evaluated, such as those concerning the now former rossoblù Shorumodov, Oristano and Gaetano.
For whom, if an economically sustainable agreement is found with the respective clubs, a new adventure could open up on the island. Different story for Mina. Having extended his contract, the club, adhering to the option it had, set a release clause of 1.5 million euros for anyone who wanted to snatch him from Cagliari. To be exercised by August 10th. Date after which it will be necessary to deal directly with the club. Because it is not certain that a profile like his, of experience and charisma, will suit the new coach who will have the final say, as with other situations in the balance. In a Cagliari that wants to keep the enthusiasm of its fans high. With an eye on the recent past, written by the satisfactions collected (and given) by Ranieri but at the same time with a decisive look towards a future that could be equally exciting.
