Cagliari manager Davide Nicola has announced that Zito Luvumbo will be available for selection in the upcoming match against Parma. During his press conference, Nicola stated, “I will bring him with us in the squad. I want him to breathe the atmosphere of the match.”
Addressing the recently concluded winter transfer window, Nicola commented, “I think sporting director Bonato has made a coherent analysis; we did what we could. We’ve trimmed the squad, letting those who wanted more playing time leave.” He specifically mentioned Zappa, saying, “Zappa is one of those players who is suffering from fatigue, but he has faced players like Karamoh and Zaccagni. He always does his part; he must not lose the consistency he has acquired. I have Zappa’s replacement in the squad, which is Zortea.”
When asked about the club’s apparent trust in the current squad, given the limited changes during the transfer window, Nicola explained, “There’s a group that has been consistently used and in which we blindly trust. Then there were some who found little space or were nearing contract expiration and were sold. I believe we were short in some roles, but Coman’s arrival gives us different solutions. Zortea himself can also be used as a full-back; we have alternatives with different characteristics.”
Nicola also praised several players, stating, “Piccoli is doing what we expected from him, and I think he can do even better. There are important players like Pavoletti, Viola, and Deiola who have a sense of belonging and are competitive, and we must recognize their proper role.”
Regarding the potential for increased roles for Prati and Kingstone, who featured against Lazio, Nicola said, “I don’t rule anyone out. This team was built to play in this way. Kingstone still needs to work on playing as a second striker. He needs to build a playing status, and he’s doing that. He always puts his soul into it. Prati is a player I like, but having five midfielders, I have to make choices. Perhaps by switching to three, I can give him more minutes. It will be up to them to take advantage of their chances.”
