GLOBAL BOOST: CAGLIARI SECURES US/INDIAN INVESTMENT, NAMES NEW VP MAURIZIO FIORI
Serie A side Cagliari secures international backing led by Maurizio Fiori and Prashant Gupta. The investment aims to expand the club's global profile and commercial reach.
Cagliari just got a fresh boost with new international backing. A minority shareholder group has joined the Serie A club, led by Maurizio Fiori, a financier who was born in Sardinia, and Prashant Gupta, an Indian entrepreneur from the U.S. The club is working to improve its long-term plan.
Fiori and Gupta are heading a group of investors, including senior managers and former athletes with finance, tech, and global sports experience. The club plans to use their know-how, along with other U.S. investors, to grow Cagliari’s business, raise its international profile, and support its sports goals.
Fiori is becoming Cagliari’s new vice president. He is already managing director at Chicago hedge fund Praxis Capital Management and CIO at Argos Investment Management. Gupta is joining the board as a non-executive member. He co-founded Lancium, a tech infrastructure firm that focuses on integrating large-scale data centres with power grids.
Fiori and Gupta shared how excited they are to be a part of the Rossoblù: “Being a part of Cagliari Calcio is a huge honour. This club represents tradition, strength, and the island's pride, and we’re dedicated to helping it do well in today’s soccer world.
“We’ll be focused on making new chances for the club to grow, both on and off the field. We want to make sure that Cagliari’s core values stay important to its future. We’re looking forward to helping President Giulini and the team write the next chapter.”
Hogan Lovells was the legal advisor for the deal. Deloitte’s Sports Business Group and Studio Business Consulting in Milan took care of the financial and business checks. Cagliari was advised by Antonio Romei from Studio BDL.
At the shareholders’ meeting on Friday, the club approved its 2024/25 accounts and officially selected a new board of directors. President Tommaso Giulini is staying in charge, with Fiori as the new vice president. Carlo Catte and Stefano Melis will be board members and co-CEOs, along with Gupta and Fedele Usai.
Nicola Riva is stepping down as director and becoming a club ambassador. The club thanked Giangiacomo Ibba, Alessandro Manunta, and Stefano Signorelli, who are leaving the board, for their work.
A new three-year Board of Statutory Auditors was also confirmed, with Luigi Zucca as chair again. Piero Sanna Randaccio and Sergio Martone were picked as standing auditors. Ria Grant Thornton will handle the statutory audit.
This new expertise is coming at a key time for the club. Cagliari wants to keep its identity while also growing and moving forward.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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