Cagliari close to triggering mandatory buy for Daniel Maldini from Atalanta
Quick summary
Cagliari are set to sign Daniel Maldini permanently from Atalanta, with the loan containing a conditional obligation to buy based on performance criteria.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceDaniel Maldini has been in impressive form in front of goal for Cagliari in the early stages of the 2026-27 season, and on his current trajectory, it will not be long before the option to buy clause in his contract becomes an obligation.
How much will Cagliari pay to make Maldini deal permanent? Maldini has netted four goals in six matches at the start of the 2026-27 Serie A season, all of which have come in his last four outings. He is the first Italian player to score in four consecutive Serie A matches in over seven years, since Moise Kean for Juventus in March and April of 2019.
(@SerieA) With his current goalscoring figures, Maldini is already starting to look like one of the signings of the season in Serie A. He joined the Sardinian outfit on loan with an option to buy from Atalanta, which could become an obligation to buy under certain conditions.
Cagliari paid a fee in the region of €1m to bring Maldini in from Atalanta during the summer transfer window and will have an option to make the move permanent for an additional €8m.
According to reports from Calciomercato.com , the option to buy will become an obligation to buy after the 25-year-old hits a certain number of goals for Cagliari this season, believed to be ‘less than 10’.
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What happened
Cagliari signed Daniel Maldini on loan from Atalanta during the summer window, with the deal structured around a buy option that becomes an obligation if specific conditions are met. The conditions relate to appearances and potentially Cagliari avoiding relegation. Maldini has been a regular contributor for Cagliari this season, putting the club on track to meet those triggers. Atalanta, who signed Maldini from Monza in 2024, stand to benefit from a sell-on clause as well. The article breaks down the exact figures and timing of when the obligation activates.
Chance analysis
Daniel Maldini's resurgence at Cagliari has turned what was a modest loan into a potentially significant investment, with performance clauses aligning the interests of all parties. For Atalanta, the structure provides both a clean exit and a financial return on a player they barely used. For Cagliari, securing a creative attacking player who has delivered in Serie A at a predictable cost represents a smart piece of squad building. The mandatory nature of the clause also removes any negotiation leverage for Atalanta, giving Cagliari certainty on a player who has become central to their attacking identity.
Cagliari will permanently retain Daniel Maldini once the obligation triggers, adding long-term stability to their attack; Atalanta receive a transfer fee for a player outside their first-team plans.