Cagliari have signed out of contract Gianni Munari after the Italian's loan spell at Watford was not renewed by the newly-promoted Premier League club.
The 32-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Serie B side, with an option for another year if the club are promoted back into the top tier at the first time of asking.
The former Sampdoria man made 31 appearances for the Hornets last season, scoring three goals, but was searching for a new permanent home this summer after his parent club Parma were dissolved.
Munari had expressed a desire to remain in Hertfordshire next season, after playing a role in helping the club back into the Premier League, but the Vicarage Road hierarchy opted against re-signing the midfielder.
Cagliari, who recently sacked former Watford head coach Gianfranco Zola, have swooped to boost their midfield options.
The midfielder wanted to remain a Hornet
Munari made no secret of his wish to remain a Watford player in England.
He told Corriere dello Sport in May that he was "sorry to see what has happened in Parma" but went onto say that it must not affect his desire, which was to "stay here at Watford to play in the Premier League"
The Italian proclaimed that "in England there is a wonderful atmosphere and the stadiums are always full" and he would "ask if there is a way we can continue together”.
The chances of this happening were always minimal though, after the energetic midfielder fell out of favour with head coach Slavisa Jokanovic in the second half of the Championship season.
He made 20 appearances for the Hornets before the turn of the year, compared to just 11 in 2015 as Jokanovic’s men began their ascent towards the top of the table.
It is now clear that Munari was never in the club’s plans for the Premier League, allowing his loan spell to terminate this summer.