"Dear Cagliari, we've come to the final farewell. I will carry you in my heart for the rest of my life, and I will never stop wanting the best for all of you and for Cagliari." This is the touching message with which Marco Palestra bids farewell to the Rossoblu, the day after the splendid victory against AC Milan that marked the end of his time in Sardinia. Arriving on loan from Atalanta, he enjoyed a season of breakthrough performances, impressive physical prowess, and earned a debut for the national team, where he was among the few to survive the World Cup playoffs.
"At the start of the season, I never imagined I'd experience so many emotions and achieve such great success," says Palestra, who, after his commitments with Cagliari, will now return to Atalanta (although there are transfer rumors about him, both Italian and international). "From day one, you made me feel at home. Feeling the affection of all of you is a source of great pride for me ."
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Palestra, also named the league's best defender by the Lega Calcio Serie A, ended his time with Cagliari with 37 appearances and one goal (against Fiorentina on January 24th) . The only match he missed was the first matchday, when he hadn't yet been signed. He's been a starter since then, except against Parma in the first leg, Atalanta in the second leg, and yesterday. "A special thanks goes to my teammates, to all the staff, and to the club, who have helped me grow and supported me throughout the year. Thank you."