Ciro Immobile has admitted his ‘sadness’ as he prepares to leave Lazio after eight years, ready to join up with Besiktas.
The 34-year-old Italian striker, who arrived in the Italian capital back in July 2016, has agreed to join the Turkish club on a two-year deal worth around €6 million net per season plus add-ons. The Biancocelesti will receive around €3 million as part of the deal.
Immobile has been a centrally important figure for Lazio over the last eight years, scoring 207 goals and providing 54 assists in 340 appearances across all competitions, helping the club win a Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. He has been club captain since Senad Lulic’s exit in 2021.
Speaking to La Repubblica Roma (via LazioNews24), Immobile first touched on his feelings ahead of his transfer to Besiktas, keeping things brief.
This is a very sad day. When the moment of parting really comes, it’ll be hard.
He was then asked to name his best goal during his eight-year spell with Lazio.
That backheel against Cagliari.
Ciro, with a broken heart I have to say goodbye to you. On the day I consciously started supporting Lazio you scored a hatrick vs Milan, on a buzzing Olimpico and zi happened to be in Curva Nord, I thought I started to be a Laziale on that day, but to my surprise, when Nel ciello Biancazzuro came on, I was singing some of the lyrics and I asked myself: how is this possible ? Than I realised that I was following Irriducibili 10-15 years prior to even attending a match, the connection with the Avanti ragazzi di Buda, the welcoming Italians in 1956(yes, when Puskás arrived with the Hungarian teammates and they all risked never to be allowed back in communist Hungary) I found out you welcomed them, did feed and shelter everyone, I knew this is special.
I wish you achieve something nice with Besiktas and that you will beat Jose (I will try attend Besiktas v Fenerbahce for this reason) but most importantly to keep that family love you have for your children and Jessica. You are clearly a great footballer but more importantly a role model who dedicates himself to all he loves: family and work. A noble man I will always look up to.
All the best 👑Ciro‼️