Mattia Zaccagni Risks Losing Lazio Captaincy as Four Alternatives Arise

A new club captain could be appointed at Lazio this summer to replace Mattia Zaccagni, whose position is now under threat.

The Background

The 29-year-old winger was appointed as skipper by the management last summer following the departure of the legendary Ciro Immobile. However, not everyone in the squad was pleased with the decision, especially Danilo Cataldi, a born and bred Laziale who had the support of the other senators.

Danilo Cataldi was Overlooked Last Summer

This episode was one of the reasons that prompted the departure of the Italian midfielder, as he signed for Fiorentina on loan with an option to buy, only to return to Formello this summer. Interestingly, Cataldi could even reclaim his role as a protagonist, as Maurizio Sarri is looking to rely on his old pupil, albeit he has a great challenge in the form of Nicolo Rovella.

What Maurizio Sarri Said About the Captaincy

During his unveiling on Thursday, the returning manager didn’t completely rule out a change in the captaincy’s pecking order, saying that Zaccagni will only retain his role if the squad wills it, suggesting that a new ballot could take place, while also discussing the candidacies of Adam Marusic and Cataldi.

If the team wants him (Zaccagni), yes, he’ll remain captain. Marusic cares less about it than Cataldi, who grew up here. I don’t give too much importance to this topic.

Four Lazio Players Could Replace Mattia Zaccagni as Lazio Captain

Therefore, Il Messaggero believes that Zaccagni’s dethronement is not out of the question at this stage, as the club might look to rectify the situation following the chaos caused by the latter’s appointment a year ago. The source also mentions Alessio Romagnoli and Ivan Provedel as two other profiles who could emerge as serious candidates for the role.