Claudio Ranieri has revealed that leaving Serie A side Cagliari is a hard and painful decision but he feels that it is the right time to depart.

Cagliari were recently saved from the drop by Ranieri, whose side seemed destined for relegation at one point in the campaign. But the former Premier League title winner helped them carve out another miracle, keeping them in the division to add to a list of accomplishments with Cagliari many years after his initial stint.

He has now confirmed that he is departing the Sardinian side and a video posted on Cagliari’s official account saw Ranieri explain his decision.

On his farewell, the Italian said: “It’s right to leave now, it was a hard and painful decision. I’m leaving after a promotion and salvation, I prefer to leave like this, I don’t want to tarnish these years.”

The ex-Leicester boss also went onto say that he is leaving the club rather reluctantly and thanked the club for giving him a home.

“You have been my refuge for years, I am leaving reluctantly but it is right to do so now. I hope I have represented Sardinia at its best”

Ranieri first arrived at Cagliari back in 1988 and during his stint there, he managed to earn them two promotions and took them to the Serie A. Even then, he had saved the club from relegation and had left on the promise that he would be back one day. 

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN