Cagliari forward Yael Trepy has been discharged from intensive care following a near-drowning incident, though the 20-year-old will play no part in Saturday’s Serie A opener against Parma.
The Italy youth international encountered difficulties in the deep end of a swimming pool at a villa during time away from training last week. Medical personnel placed Trepy in an induced coma to drain fluid from his lungs after the accident. He has since been moved from the Intensive Care Unit at Sassari’s Santissima Annunziata Hospital and is understood to be making rapid progress, though he remains under medical observation and continues treatment.
Head coach Fabio Pisacane revealed that Trepy had originally been selected to lead the attack at the Stadio Tardini. The forward, who progressed through the club’s youth academy, had started in last week’s Coppa Italia victory over Arezzo and was poised to make his mark in the league campaign.
“It has certainly not been an easy week,” Pisacane told reporters. “We had some terrible moments, but fortunately Yael woke up and it was the best news we could receive. He reminded us once again that life is the most important match of all.”
With Trepy unavailable, Pisacane must choose between Daniele Maldini and Jacopo Fazzini to fill the attacking vacancy. The situation leaves the Sardinian side with limited options up front, as Sebastiano Esposito also remains excluded from the travelling party amid a prolonged dispute with the club’s hierarchy.
“Esposito is not a player at our disposal, and I would prefer not to talk about him,” the coach stated when questioned about the striker’s absence.
Saturday’s fixture in Parma kicks off at 20:45 local time (19:45 BST). The match marks Cagliari’s first competitive league outing since their cup progression, with Trepy’s absence representing a significant setback for the Rossoblù after his pre-season promise.