Cagliari send clear message to Inter and Juventus over Romano

Cagliari director Pietro Accardi insists Alessandro Romano won’t leave in the January window, but the Rossoblu are aware that the fresh Italy debutant ‘is starting to attract a lot of interest.’

Cagliari and Romano host Juventus at the Unipol Domus in Serie A Round 6 on Sunday.

Romano has made an impressive start to the season, earning his first call-up to the Italy national team. The 20-year-old made his debut against Belgium during the international break, and he now has three international appearances under his belt.

Romano joined Cagliari from Roma over the summer, on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy.

“He impressed me last season with how quickly he adapted to a difficult situation at Spezia,” Cagliari director Accardi told Tuttosport.

“A young player who, in his first experience at senior level, managed to establish himself and play all 19 matches despite the difficulties shows what kind of mentality he has.

“He was certainly under high demand this summer. Other teams were interested, but I believe the Cagliari project, and above all the coach, made the difference.”

Romano has resumed training with his club earlier this week, and Accardi noted that the player’s humility hasn’t changed.

“He’s exactly the same as on his first day,” said the club director.

“He knows playing for the national team has undoubtedly given him something, but he also knows his journey is here at Cagliari.”

Juventus and Inter are among the clubs linked with Romano, but have they contacted Cagliari already?

“Not directly, but we know very well he is starting to attract a lot of interest, as you would expect for a player born in 2006 with his qualities and considerable room for improvement,” Accardi replied.

“Representing these supporters also means not seeing yourself as merely passing through. None of us is considering letting such a prized asset leave in January. We have the seventh-largest fan base in Italy, so we all understand our responsibility to our supporters.”

Cagliari have earned 12 points in five games, winning four matches from five.

“I didn’t expect such a strong start. We’re enjoying the moment, but we’re staying level-headed and focused, knowing this is only the beginning; we still have a long way to go, and our objective is to avoid relegation,” Accardi admitted.

The Italian director will reunite with Juventus goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on Sunday. Accardi signed Vicario from Cagliari to Empoli in 2021 and then sold him to Tottenham two years later, registering the biggest sale in Empoli’s history.

“He was always focused, hardworking, and professional, so I’m not surprised to see him at Juventus,” Accardi said.

Accardi concluded by mentioning other deals that have made him proud: “The players signed from Serie C, such as Di Lorenzo from Matera and Parisi from Avellino. When you have the courage to invest in young players from the lower divisions and one of them goes on to win the European Championship and become Napoli’s captain, that’s immensely rewarding.”