Sassuolo was reportedly in the final phase of discussions with Hellas Verona to sign Rafik Belghali, a 24-year-old Algerian right-back. Belghali wanted to leave Hellas Verona after the club's relegation. Cagliari has now made a late offer for the player and wants to accelerate discussions to surpass other interested clubs. The club is actively looking for a player for its right side after complications occurred in the Romano Floriani Mussolini case. Previously, Inter Milan and AS Roma had shown interest without making formal offers. Olympique de Marseille's proposal for a loan was rejected by Hellas Verona, which preferred a permanent sale. The player's value is estimated at around 12 million euros. Belghali is an Algerian international with 17 caps and 2 goals. He joined Hellas Verona in August 2025 from Mechelen for a reported €2 million and his contract runs until June 2029. In August 2026, reports indicated a deal with Sassuolo was being finalized for around €6 million plus a player, while Hellas Verona's asking price was reported to be €15 million during the summer.