Former Napoli centre back Nikola Maksimovic, who is currently a free agent after leaving Genoa, revealed that he was on the verge of joining Lazio before Simone Inzaghi left for Inter.
The 31-year-old Serbian defender spent five years attached to Napoli from 2016 to 2021, spending time on loan with Spartak Moscow for one season before he left for Genoa in the summer of 2021.
After a single year in Liguria, he left the club on a free transfer and is now unattached, looking for a new home.
Speaking to TMW, Maksimovic revealed that he was only a step away from signing for Lazio in the summer of 2021 before Inzaghi’s move to Inter.
I was expiring with Napoli and Inzaghi wanted to bring me to Lazio. The deal was almost done and everything fell through when he decided to leave Lazio and go to Inter. He wanted me.
The Serbian defender was asked if the arrival of Maurizio Sarri changed things and recalled various conversations he had with the Biancocelesti squad.
Yes, but already during the season. They were the first Italian team to look for me after it was understood that I wouldn’t renew my contract with Napoli.
Simone, in a lunch with Immobile and Insigne, asked about me, Lorenzo at that point called me to tell me that Inzaghi wanted me and that there was this opportunity. I started thinking about it and after a couple of weeks we played Lazio in Naples.
At the end of the game, I went into the Biancoceleste dressing room to ask for information. I spoke to Reina, to Milinkovic-Savic, everyone was calling me to tell me to join….
And I would’ve gone. But then it happened that Inzaghi left, Sarri arrived, and everything stopped.
An experienced defender, Maksimovic made 146 appearances in Serie A during his time with Napoli, Torino and Genoa. In the Campania capital, he won the Coppa Italia in the 2019-20 season.
