Overview
- Esposito departed the first‑team retreat without the club's permission and did not travel with Cagliari to the scheduled friendly in Germany.
- An interlocutory meeting in Milan between Esposito's agent Mario Giuffredi and sporting director Pietro Accardi failed to resolve the player's request for a contract upgrade.
- Cagliari has opened formal procedures and is preparing a letter of contestation that could lead to a fine of up to 20 percent of the player's salary or other sanctions.
- Club sources say the break may be irreparable and that Cagliari intends to sell Esposito, naming a notional price of €15 million and linking Atalanta as a possible buyer.
- Esposito was Cagliari's top scorer last season and the dispute has forced the club to seek replacements, which could disrupt preseason cohesion and affect their plans for the opening of the league campaign.