Roberto Gagliardini: "I have great ambition, I want to maintain a high level"

Cagliari has welcomed three new reinforcements. While they might start on the bench for now (two were starters in the Coppa Italia), their impact is anticipated. Giuseppe Aurelio, Riccardo Ciervo, and Roberto Gagliardini have all spoken for the first time since joining the club. They began their introductory press conference with a moment of silence and solidarity for teammate Mattia Felici, who has suffered a serious injury. Gagliardini expressed the team's collective sentiment: "Mattia will be greatly missed, not only as a player but also as a person. He is a wonderful young man, always smiling. His absence will be significant for us."

After two challenging years at Monza and Verona, Gagliardini is hopeful for a different season with Cagliari. "I have a great passion for my work, for a sport I love and have always played. I have great ambition, and I push myself to improve constantly. This year is important for me; I want to maintain a high level. Like many other teams, we will have to fight for survival, an objective to achieve as soon as possible. I've found a united and compact group, and we can do really well and achieve satisfaction. However, we must never forget our path and our goal."

Aurelio, who had a strong Serie B season with Spezia, is embarking on his first Serie A campaign at 26. "When Cagliari called, I was very excited. I am proud to be here; I've arrived at the right moment in my career and feel ready for this adventure. I believe I performed well last season, though unfortunately, as a team, the championship didn't end as we hoped. This is a significant opportunity for me, and I'm holding onto it tightly, training to the best of my ability and giving everything for my teammates. I remember my early years in Serie C, seeing Serie A as an 'Everest.' I've climbed this mountain and finally reached it."

Ciervo joins from Sassuolo in a deal that saw Sebastiano Esposito move to Emilia. "I'm coming off a great season in terms of both performances and playing time, so arriving at Cagliari now is a source of pride for me; I couldn't have asked for anything better. My role? I've always played more offensively, but today it's important to be a complete player, capable of contributing in both phases and adapting to the team's needs during a match, always being ready. There's a lot of competition in my role, which gives me even more motivation to perform well. Ultimately, the coach will make his evaluations and decisions, but we must be ready."