Four-goal debut for Zola

GIANFRANCO ZOLA hit four goals on his Cagliari debut and then insisted he had no regrets about trading in a role in Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea revolution and Champions League football for Italy’s Serie B.

The 37-year-old bagged his haul in a 45-minute appearance for Cagliari as they beat Rap Valgusana 11-0 in a pre-season friendly. It was a dream start to his career with the club he has supported since childhood and Zola said: “I am very happy to have showed a good performance and scored so many goals in my debut match.”

The Italian left Chelsea this summer after almost seven years with the Premiership club, rejecting their offer of a new one-year deal to sign for two years at Cagliari.

“I could have stayed seven years more at Chelsea where I had an exceptional professional and personal experience and which I will remember fondly for the rest of my life,” he said. “I turned down not only an important financial offer but a good offer. The Chelsea chairman understood my decision.”

Just hours after chairman Ken Bates bade farewell to Zola, he sold his 50.1% stake in Chelsea to Abramovich.