Cagliari will resume their Serie A campaign without captain Alessandro Deiola, whose left-knee problem has required surgery. The midfielder, born in 1995, has undergone an operation for a lateral meniscus injury and will not be available to coach Fabio Pisacane when the league returns after the international break.
It is an unwelcome interruption for a side whose early-season resilience has been built on collective discipline and, in recent weeks, Deiola’s adaptability at the back. Cagliari have conceded only two goals across their opening five league matches, a record described as the best defensive return in Europe at this stage.
Quick facts
- Alessandro Deiola has suffered a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee.
- The Cagliari captain underwent selective arthroscopic external meniscectomy surgery.
- The procedure was carried out by Professor Massimiliano Salvi at San Francesco Hospital in Nuoro.
- Cagliari said the operation was successful.
- After a short rest period, Deiola will begin his rehabilitation programme.
- The Sardinian side have allowed two goals in five Serie A rounds.
The club explained that Deiola first reported discomfort in his left knee before examinations identified the meniscus damage. Surgical treatment was then judged necessary, with the operation completed successfully in Nuoro.
He will rest for several days before beginning the planned recovery work. No return date was given, but his absence has been confirmed for the first fixture after the break.
Deiola’s loss carries particular weight because Pisacane had used him in central defence out of necessity. The captain responded well in that role, forming a productive partnership with Rodriguez and helping give the rossoblù a firm base through the opening phase of the championship.
For Cagliari, the next chapter is therefore about protecting a defensive standard established with Deiola on the pitch while managing without one of the dressing room’s key figures. The squad’s response after the pause will show how much depth Pisacane has at a moment when the season’s first patterns are beginning to settle.
