Cagliari Transfer Market: The Deal for the Son of a Legend Is Almost Done

Cagliari is targeting Daniel Maldini to bolster its offense. The Rossoblù club is considering the possibility of signing the playmaker, who came up through Milan’s youth system and has already made his mark in Serie A while playing for Milan, Spezia, Monza, Atalanta, and Lazio.

The deal could take the form of a loan with an obligation to buy. The transfer would become permanent upon fulfillment of certain conditions, linked both to Cagliari avoiding relegation and to the number of appearances made by the son of Paolo and grandson of the late Cesare.

This is a separate negotiation from the one involving Sebastiano Esposito, another target for the Sardinian club as it looks to strengthen its roster ahead of the new season.

However, Cagliari is not the only suitor for the player born in 2001. As early as the end of June, Parma had come forward—with coach Carlos Cuesta reportedly specifically requesting the arrival of the attacking midfielder—as had Sassuolo, with new coach Alberto Aquilani equally in favor of the move. The final say, however, will rest with Maurizio Sarri, whom Maldini already knows very well, having coached him during the second half of last season at Lazio.

It was precisely his time with the Biancocelesti that provided valuable insight into the player’s potential. He arrived at Formello during the winter transfer window as part of a group of new signings that also brought Kenneth Taylor, Petar Ratkov, and Adrian Przyborek to the capital, Maldini found some consistency under Sarri’s guidance, contributing with crucial goals—most notably the one he scored in the 95th minute of the dramatic 3-3 draw against Udinese. It was, however, a season that fell short of overall expectations for the Biancocelesti, but it was enough to confirm the attacking midfielder’s qualities.

For Maldini, a standout season in Sardinia would also represent an opportunity to re-establish himself with the national team, as he hasn’t worn the Azzurri jersey since September 2025. Atalanta, for its part, sees Cagliari as the ideal destination for its client, preferring it to other suitors precisely because of the long-standing relationship between the two clubs, which have previously been involved in transfers such as those involving Marco Palestra, Michel Adopo, and Ibrahim Sulemana.