According to Italian Football Reporter Alfredo Pedullà of Sport Italia, Spal wing-back Mohamed Fares is set to join Lazio. The Biancocelesti are said to have scheduled a meeting with the Biancazzurri for the Algerian international – to finalize the details of the transfer – which will take place after Ferragosto; a public holiday celebrated every year on August 15 in Italy. However, it is important to note that Fares has already agreed to the transfer. He will sign a five-year deal worth €1.5 million (including bonuses) per season with Lazio; the transfer fee is the final matter that needs to be sorted, as there is the possibility of Lazio including a counterpart in the deal (which will ultimately lower the original fee).
Despite being heavily linked to Torino (according to reports in June 2020), Italian Football Reporter Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sport announced that both Lazio and Fiorentina had enquired about Fares in July 2020.
This interest (from both the Biancocelesti and the Viola) was due to a managerial change with the Granata, whereby Marco Giampaolo has become the new Manager of the club. As he plays a formation that would not suit Fares, Di Marzio stated that the Piedmont-based club had dropped their interest in the 24-year-old Algeria international, thus leaving Lazio and Fiorentina in pole position to sign the wing-back.
However, as La Lazio Siamo Noi reported at the beginning of August 2020, the situation had since changed once again, with the Biancocelesti having solely taken the lead in the race for his signature. This was due to three factors:
- The first factor pertained to the relationship between Lazio and Spal Presidents Claudio Lotito and Walter Mattioli – due to their history, they have been in contact on a daily basis regarding this negotiation
- The second factor pertained to the player’s choice – it is said that Fares had chosen the Biancocelesti as he likes the current project and will be able to play in the UEFA Champions League
- The third factor pertained to Lazio’s offer to both the club and the player – these were (both) higher than what Fiorentina had been able to put together
