Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini has given his support to coach Zdenek Zeman and has also admitted to turning down an offer for Victor Ibarbo.
The 37-year-old, whose family were formerly on the board at Inter, took over from new Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino after 22 years in June and has so far overseen a mixed start to the season including a 4-1 win at Inter and home defeats to the likes of Atalanta and Torino.
Giulini told Gazzetta dello Sport that he fully supports Zeman and expects him to do a good job once he has fully made his mark at the club.
“We are missing the point, I did not expect some of the hurdles but the work of Zeman will soon bear fruit,” he said. “I will not change anyone.”
Cagliari were finally allowed to return to the newly renovated Stadio Sant’Elia this season and Giulini has big plans for further renovation.
“The new stadium is one of the cornerstones of the project. We must become the national team of Sardinia.”
Giulini also discussed the future of star striker Victor Ibarbo, and admitted that the club turned down an offer for him in the summer.
“He has the talent to play in a top team.
“In the summer we rejected a €12 million bid for him, partly because we’d just lost [Davide] Astori [to Roma]. Now under Zeman he can do even better.”
Along with Astori, another player that made the move to the Stadio Olimpico was Radja Nainggolan who originally moved on a loan deal last January and is now co-owned by the Giallorossi and the Rossoblu.
“It’s too bad we lost him, we have been enjoying watching him even in the Roma shirt.
“Anyway, we still have ownership of his registration. Maybe Radja will even score goals in the Champions League, let’s see We will talk with Roma. Maybe also another club will turn up.”
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