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While visiting an uncle in Scotland in his early teens, Sau played in the youth ranks of Livingston and a local team in Gourock.[3]
Club career
Cagliari
Sau turned professional at Cagliari in 2007. On 25 June 2008 he was signed by AlbinoLeffe.[4] On 15 July 2009, he was loaned to Lecco.[5]
Foggia
In August 2010 Sau was acquired by Foggia of Lega Pro Prima Divisione by head coach Zdenek Zeman in co-ownership deals, for a peppercorn of €500,[6] scoring 20 league goals that season. In June 2011 Foggia acquired Sau and Salvatore Burrai outright for a total of €207,000 by a closed tender mediated by Lega Serie A.[6][7] However they were returned to Cagliari on 31 August 2011 for the same total price (Burrai for free and Sau for €207,000).[8][9] Foggia later brought the transfer to court to claim the transfer documents were falsified.[10]
Return to Cagliari
Sau was re-acquired by Cagliari on 31 August 2011 on a two-year contract.[9] He played at S.S. Juve Stabia in 2011–12 Serie B season,[11] scoring 21 goals. This form allowed him into the Cagliari first team for 2012–13.[3]
Sau scored both of Cagliari's goals in a 2–2 draw against Inter on 18 November 2012.[3]
On 29 August 2014, Sau renewed his contract with Cagliari until 2017.[12]
Later career
On 31 January 2019, Sau signed with Sampdoria after seven years at Cagliari.[13] After five goalless substitute appearances, he signed a two-year contract at Serie B's Benevento on 22 July.[14] He scored a hat-trick on 29 December in a 4–0 home win over Ascoli,[15] and the following 29 June he came off the bench to score the only goal against his former club Juve Stabia to win promotion to Serie A as champions with seven games left.[16]
In February 2023, Sau signed for Serie C Group A club Feralpisalò on a contract until the end of the season with the option for a further year.[17]
International career
Sau made his international debut on 31 May 2013, coming on as a 49th-minute substitute against San Marino in a friendly 4–0 win at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna.[18]