Lopez sacked over Cossu?

Speculation is that Massimo Cellino’s decision to sack Diego Lopez at Cagliari hinged over Andrea Cossu’s stalled contract negotiations.

Lopez was removed as Coach on Sunday evening and replaced by former assistant Ivo Pulga, in a move described by the club as ‘indispensable’.

Speculation is that Massimo Cellino’s decision to sack Diego Lopez at Cagliari hinged over Andrea Cossu’s stalled contract negotiations.

Lopez was removed as Coach on Sunday evening and replaced by former assistant Ivo Pulga, in a move described by the club as ‘indispensable’.

President Cellino has commented that he did not share in Lopez’s team selections and the Corriere dello Sport understand that the falling out was ultimately over playmaker Cossu.

With the 33-year-old’s talks over extending his contract beyond its June expiry having stalled, Cellino is alleged to have pushed that he was not used in first-team affairs.

However, Lopez is described as unwilling to go without the No 7, leading to his eventual exit after Week 32’s defeat to Roma.

Reports in Italy today also reiterate rumours from England that Cellino is looking to sack Leeds United manager Brian McDermott and replace him with Gianfranco Zola.