Lazio striker Ciro Immobile has reportedly asked the club to release him from his contract which would pave the way for his transfer to Besiktas.
While the club captain had previously expressed his desire to stay at Formello beyond the summer, he was suddenly linked with a shock move to Turkey on Monday, July 8, 2024. The Istanbul-based club has since reportedly agreed to terms with the 34-year-old who would earn a yearly net salary of €6-7 million.
Immobile Asks President Claudo Lotito for Lazio Release
But as Il Corriere dello Sport explains, Besiktas don’t intend to pay a transfer fee. Hence, Immobile is now asking Lazio to rescind his contract which runs until June 2026. The Italian has been a great servant to the cause since 2016 and is the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer. So he’s hoping that management would repay him for his services by granting him his release.
Nevertheless, Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà notes that Immobile should know better than to ask Lazio President Claudio Lotito to free him without compensation in return, as the stubborn patron is unlikely to satisfy such a request. The journalist also reveals that Besiktas would like to have a definitive answer by the end of the day (Tuesday, July 9, 2024).
For his part, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio believes Lotito would be willing to sell his club captain for €5 million which he considers a fair price.