Hull City have been linked with a move for Cagliari striker Sebastiano Esposito as they look to bolster their attack ahead of their return to the Premier League
Sebastiano Esposito has been linked with a summer move to Hull City(Image: Getty Images)
Hull City-linked Cagliari striker Sebastiano Esposito has reportedly abandoned the Italian club’s pre-season training camp. The forward is said to have requested an improved salary with the Serie A side, but negotiations have reportedly broken down
That has opened the door for a potential move to the MKM Stadium for the £17 million-rated attacker. Italian publication Tuttosport claim that the Tigers have submitted an offer for the former Italy U21 international.
And the Sardinian club announced Esposito’s absence from the squad for their friendly against German Bundesliga team Union Berlin. Cagliari claim that the 24-year-old left their camp without permission before last Saturday’s match.
Cagliari also stated in a club statement that the former Inter Milan player would face disciplinary action.
But the striker’s agent, Mario Giuffredi, has painted a very different version of events when speaking to TuttoCagliari.net. He claims that the Italian has been granted leave until August 5th.
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He said: “Cagliari’s statement was full of lies! I was on the phone yesterday from 9pm to 2am speaking to director of sport Pietro Accardi and coach Fabio Pisacane, who in the presence of the player agreed that he should have a few days off due to the profound stress he is under.
“We ended with the agreement that he would return to training on August 5, after the friendly match in Germany.
“We have been talking to Cagliari for two months about a contract renewal, and despite us giving the go-ahead, the club was not open to it, and the lad was happy to stay.
“The truth is, President Tommaso Giulini intended to sell the player. I can easily prove everything I am saying. On Thursday I was asked to come to Milan to speak with the club, but after just 15 minutes of the meeting, the President got up and left, leaving me with the director of sport and director general.
“If the President of Cagliari denies the evidence, I will prove what I have just said.”
Esposito is the older brother of Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito. The attacker scored eight goals last season with six assists in 39 domestic games for Cagliari.
The Italy youth international is a product of Inter’s academy and has previously been on loan at SPAL, Venezia, FC Basel, RSC Anderlecht, Bari, Sampdoria and Empoli before he joined Cagliari – initially on loan in August 2025.