Lazio president Claudio Lotito spoke openly from the pre-season training camp in Auronzo di Cadore, providing updates on the club’s summer transfer market plans.
The Biancocelesti have only completed one deal since the start of the summer transfer window three weeks ago, signing striker Valentin Castellanos from New York City FC in a deal worth circa €20 million.
Lazio sold star midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Al-Hilal for €42 million earlier this month and still haven’t picked up any replacements yet, creating some anxiety for coach Maurizio Sarri.
Speaking from the Lazio training camp in Auronzo di Cadore (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Lotito first discussed the future of Immobile and work to find a replacement for Milinkovic-Savic.
Ciro is staying, I didn’t put him up for sale. Rest assured. Now Castellanos will come up on Tuesday, who has sorted out the bureaucracy, visas and everything else.
We have 50 players who all want to come to us, with money you can buy everything, then with Lotito the result is guaranteed.
They’re a team that work, last year we had some situations to fix and we’re fixing them. We needed another forward and he has arrived. Milinkovic-Savic has left, and a replacement will arrive. It’s not like you go to the supermarket, buy one and get three.
You have to buy the right players and with the right mentality. I have to make the team and I know what I have to do. Today the first priority is Milinkovic-Savic’s replacement. In that direction we already have three, Cataldi, Marcos Antonio and Vecino.
He touched on the team’s priorities for the summer transfer window and what happened with Milinkovic-Savic.
I make a practical speech and say ‘what I have to do I know’. We had the discussions before the end of the season on the needs that could improve the team. You have to prioritise and today these are the ones.
We needed Immobile’s replacement, and we bought him. We chose one of the best on the market. We hope he will do what he did abroad.
Milinkovic-Savic certainly wasn’t up for sale, on the contrary I tried to keep him until the end. He gets €20 million a year and he decided to leave, and I said fine.
Now the priority is to replace him. Everything else is in addition, it will be done. We’re already working. Zielinski? I choose the players. When you see the players, you’ll talk.
Did you know I was signing Castellanos? No. He came out because I brought him up otherwise you wouldn’t even know who he was.
Ricci? What do I know, I eat urchins (ricci in Italian, ed.) with spaghetti.
He was asked about the future of Stefan Radu, who hung up his boots at the end of last season.
Right now, he’s resting, then we’ll see. Stefan is a good person. Club manager? That he stays is one thing, but if we give him that title already…
He commented on Lazio’s apparent interest in Sassuolo talisman Domenico Berardi.
This story about Berardi is bullsh*t. He’s never been put up for sale, I called the club and was told that he’s not for sale, except that he’s asking a frightening amount of money.
Last year he signed a contract with Juve and tore it up. You also have to see who you talk to!
Finally, Lotito reassured the Biancocelesti fans regarding the future of Immobile.
You must not be afraid. Lazio will always remain strong, regardless of people. And in any case, worries do not exist. Call Immobile’s agent and ask him if he has had an offer.
He won’t answer you because he’s p*ssed off and he’s looking for whoever gave the news to denounce him. It’s a lie, believe me, I don’t know who put it out there.
Hmm ok mister Claudio but Sarri is a coach (a very stringent one btw) who to implement his stringency needs to work with the players that arrive. Other than Castellanos + youngsters from the primavera NO ONE arrived and we are almost playing Villa (our last friendly) in 11 days.
I understand you don’t wanna be bullied into overpaying but consider this: you don’t overpay for the player, you overpay slightly to satisfy the mister who made miracles last season for Lazio to finish 2nd. Imagine what he can achieve with actual reinforcements in time !
Get it done and I’m sure Sarri doesn’t mind if 2nd choice players arrived, though yesterday meaning timing is key or I hope he won’t turn around and say it’s disrespectful after selling SMS to mention any of those 3 players(even if I’m certain I am way more optimistic than the average Lazio fan about them) to think it will be anywhere near Sergejs performances.
Cane out a bit longer than I wanted…
Let me add that Valentin has no yet stepped on the turf so what I said is actually only valid for the primavera kids* who will likely not participate in our next campaign…