Tuesday, 29th April, 2014
Former Cagliari striker Mauro Esposito has rejected accusations that Massimo Cellino is set to weaken the club by moving talents to his new side Leeds United, along with shipping out players to other clubs.
Cellino, who owns Cagliari, has bought 75 per cent of Championship side Leeds and is setting about planning to guide the Yorkshire giants to promotion to the Premier League within the next two years.
Already Cellino is thought to be eyeing taking Cagliari striker Victor Ibarbo and defender Danilo Avelar to Elland Road.
And that has led to concerns Cellino will raid the Sardinian outfit to strengthen Leeds and adversely affect their chances of avoiding the drop in Serie A next season, as well as letting other talents move elsewhere as his focus shifts to Yorkshire.
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"I do not know what the president will do in the future, but the one thing that is certain is that he has done his best for Cagliari", Esposito, who played for Cagliari between 2001 and 2007, told Tutto Mercato.
"Cellino has always kept the team at a high level and the possible sale of players should be seen as a normal thing.
"It's in the DNA of Cagliari for talents to explode and then sell them. All this, however, without affecting the quality too.
"Cellino's first desire is, in fact, always to have Cagliari in Serie A", the ex-Italy international concluded, defending the club supremo.
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