Report: Lazio make an offer for Fiorentina’s Milan Badelj

Milan Badelj playing for his home nation of Croatia, Source- SempreInter

Less than a week ago, we reported that Lazio were planning on challenging AC Milan for Croatian Midfielder Milan Badelj

Calciomercato reported that the Fiorentina player and captain could be on his way to AC Milan, with his contract expiring at the end of June. The Rossoneri have offered Badelj a 4-year contract, which would see the Croatian become the latest part of Milan’s project. However, the Rome edition of Corriere della Sera is reporting that Lazio were planning to steal the 29-year-old from under their rivals’ noses.

Badelj signed for the Florence- based club back in the summer of 2014 for just €5 million from Bundesliga outfit Hamburg, having only signed for the German side two years prior (from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb).

TransferMarkt currently values the player at around €13 million, yet as he is available on a free transfer, and could be quite the coup for Inzaghi, Lotito and Tare. This season, he has made 27 appearances for Fiorentina, scoring twice and assisting once, obtaining a pass accuracy of 83.2%. In addition, he makes an average of 64.9 passes per/game (the best for a Serie A midfielder aside from Pjanic).

 

Today, reports have emerged that Lazio have already made a bid for the player

Lazio and Igli Tare have been watching Badelj for years, and now he has said goodbye to Fiorentina and is ready for a new adventure: “There are not always easy choices in life, even when it seems that they are but in reality each of us is different and those who know me know that I am a person who always tries to go further. The life of a player is not long, and unfortunately I’m not ready to dedicate myself to Fiorentina for ever: I still have the desire and enthusiasm to prove myself,” the player said.

Even after Andrea Della Valle and Pantaleo Corvino tried to convince him with a five-year contract renewal at 1.5 million euros per season, Badelj has declined and has now been released – Lazio wants to take advantage.

According to CittaCeleste, money has already been put on the table for the Croatian: the biancocelesti came forward around a month ago, presenting 1.8 million per season, for 4 years.

The Croatian appreciates the Roman club a lot, but he would like to be a player in the starting 11: he knows that with Lucas Leiva in front he would not be playing fully, even if all the extra competitions would allow him to have enough space.

AC Milan, on the other hand, have seemed to have stepped aside for the moment.

 

As Lazio look for additions to strengthen their pursuit of Champions League football, Badelj could be an important signing and not to mention one with very little costs involved… what are your thoughts on the player?

 

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Tags AC Milan Badelj Biancocelesti Calciomercato Dinamo Hamburg Inzaghi Laziali Lazio Lotito Milan Milan Badelj Patreon Tare