Cagliari football club navigates squad dispute ahead of Union Berlin friendly

On 2 August 2026 Cagliari Calcio played a pre‑season test match against 1 FC Union Berlin at Berlin’s Alte Försterei, finishing 2‑2. Union secured the draw with two late headed goals by Ilyas Ansah, while Cagliari’s youngsters, including the Primavera side, recorded a 0‑3 win in a parallel U20 fixture. Coach Fabio Pisacane addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding forward Sebastiano Esposito, who left the team’s training camp without permission, stressing that “the group comes first” and that the club’s shirt deserves respect. New signing defender Raphael Kofler made his Serie A debut for Cagliari, playing 30 minutes before returning to Sardinia. The club will continue its preparation with a training camp in Aigen, Austria, and upcoming friendlies in Salzburg and a DFB‑Pokal tie later in August.