The past week has been a particularly interesting one for Cagliari Calcio. After several months of listening to Massimo Cellino flirting with Leeds United, it looks like the club’s loyal fans might have found a savior.
Touching down in Sardinia several days ago, Luca Silvestrone is the man representing an American group that intend on wrestling the twenty-two year ownership of Cagliari from Cellino’s grip. Having initially appeared uncooperative and stubborn, the club’s president has held serious conversations through lawyer Giuseppe Accardi.
The new ownership would present a new approach to the day-to-day running of the club, increased income and offer Cellino the chance to pursue his Leeds fantasy.
What’s more, the Americans have also made it their goal to rebuild the Stadio Sant’Elia. Having arrived in the city, Silvestrone has since visited the defunct Is Arena, accompanied by architect Dan Meis who is at present masterminding the construction of Roma’s new stadium.
The envoy also met with the city Mayor Massimo Zedda, keen to establish a connection with the city and what it’s football fans want. Cellino’s ownership of Cagliari has been an altogether successful one, but many fans won’t be too disappointed to see him go.
These events may have reduced Cagliari’s next fixture to little more then a side note, particularly since the Rossoblu have already avoided relegation. However it was the complete opposite for a determined Chievo Verona side desperate to get all three points. Putting Cagliari under immense pressure for the vast majority of the game, the Flying Donkeys eventually took the lead in the second half through Dario Dainelli.
An in-swinging corner found the defender in the box who lashed it past Vlada Avramov in goal. Chievo saw out at the match and, despite the fact the game meant very little to the hosts, it still hurt to see Michael Agazzi playing for the opponents.
After a troubled few months with thoughts of relegation occupying the players’ minds, it is finally time to relax and enjoy the break. For those lucky enough to be heading to the World Cup in Brazil (namely Victor Ibarbo and Davide Astori) the break will be short lived. For the fans, a little light relief with the season all but concluded. As with any World Cup, some great players can get left behind if their team does not qualify.
The most notable absentee comes from Sweden; three guesses who! Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be heading to Brazil with his national team which has sparked a Twitter campaign with the hash-tag ‘VemIbra’, translated meaning ‘Come Ibra’.
The campaign aims at enticing the giant Swede to Brazil purely to watch the tournament. Famous players such as Barcelona’s Dani Alves and Brazilian great Ronaldo have been videoed imploring Ibrahimovic to come. Amongst all the faces, appeared three unmistakable figures.
Danilo Avelar, Albin Ekdal and Mauricio Pinalla sent their message to the Paris Saint Germain striker, asking him to come watch the World Cup in their company. Although unlikely to accept such an offer, the appearance of the Rossoblu trio is bound to amuse countless fans and Serie A followers alike.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
