According to Italian Football Reporter Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sport, Milan Badelj – who is currently owned by Lazio but on loan at Fiorentina until the end of the 2019/20 season – is set to join Russian Premier League side FC Lokomotiv Moscow this summer.
The Croatian international was signed by the Biancocelesti on a free transfer following his contract expiry with the Viola in the summer of 2018. However, he failed to impress in his first season with the club; as a result, he was sent on loan back to Florence with an option-to-buy for the 2019/20 season, with Fiorentina paying a fee of €700,000 while also contributing to the midfielder’s wages.
Badelj has played 19 games for Fiorentina this season and has shown many of the same talents that made him a top target for Lazio following Croatia’s terrific run in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, at 31-years-old, it is unlikely that the Viola will take up the option to purchase him permanently. For this reason, Lokomotiv Moscow enquired about his availability, and Lazio have made it clear that they are ready to sell the player.
As further reported by Di Marzio, the Russian side have already started negotiating with Biancocelesti Sporting Director Igli Tare about acquiring Badelj outright. Negotiations are progressing quite well, so it will be no surprise to see him leave this summer.
