MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 29: Giovanni Simeone of SSC Napoli looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and SSC Napoli at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 29, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Simeone Open to Summer Move to Tudor’s Lazio

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 29: Giovanni Simeone of SSC Napoli looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and SSC Napoli at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 29, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Igor Tudor wants to bring Giovanni Simeone to Lazio in the summer and the Napoli striker has given his green light to the move.

The 45-year-old Croatian coach put pen to paper on his one-year contract with an option for a second with the Biancocelesti earlier this month, replacing Maurizio Sarri following the Italian tactician’s shock resignation.

Tudor will carefully evaluate the entire Lazio squad over the next two months ahead of the summer, keen to see which players can play a part in his project in the Italian capital and which aren’t best suited to his system. Sweeping changes are expected following the team’s dire campaign.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) details how Tudor has explicitly requested Napoli’s Simeone for the summer, having fond memories of the Argentine striker from their time together at Hellas Verona.

Whilst Simeone has already given his green light for the move to Lazio, talks still need to be opened with Aurelio De Laurentiis, who’ll want at least €20 million for the 28-year-old, who earns a salary of €1.7 million net per season.

This season, the Argentine has struggled to find the back of the net, scoring just three goals in 31 appearances in all competitions. Being managed by Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzari, and Francesco Calzona in a single season has not helped; especially when he has been the last option in the pecking order in attack behind Victor Osimhen, Giacomo Raspadori, and Cyril Ngonge.

Tags Biancocelesti Giovanni Simeone Italy Lazio Napoli Rome Serie A Simeone