Sebastiano Esposito dispute escalates as agent files defamation suit against Cagliari director

Sebastiano Esposito, a 2002‑born striker contracted to Cagliari until 2030, has become the centre of a heated dispute over his contract renewal. The player demanded a salary increase to around €1.7 million per season, while Cagliari offered €1.2 million. Director general Stefano Melis described the situation as a “near attempt at extortion”, prompting strong backlash.

Esposito’s agent, Mario Giuffredi, denied the accusation, saying Melis was never present at the negotiations and that the term “extortion” belongs to the criminal world, not sport. Giuffredi announced he has filed a defamation complaint against Melis and warned that club president Tommaso Giulini should distance himself from the remarks. Giuffredi also alleged that Giulini asked him to stage a “theatrino” – a fake dispute – to facilitate a €20 million sale of the player without alienating fans.

Former paparazzo Fabrizio Corona entered the fray, claiming to possess recordings of a July 29 phone call in which a senior Cagliari official instructed the creation of the theatrical dispute. Corona said he would broadcast the audio on his show, accusing the club of orchestrating the break‑up to sell Esposito.

Napoli have been monitoring the situation, reportedly interested in signing the striker if he becomes available. The controversy has dominated Italian football headlines, with legal actions and media claims adding to the transfer‑market drama.