Lazio are reportedly open to keeping Mario Gila beyond next summer, even if it means losing him for free a year later.
The Background
The Spaniard, who joined the Biancocelesti in the summer of 2022, is now considered one of the finest defenders in Serie A, and has earned himself a queue of suitors in Italy and the rest of Europe. The 25-year-old has been linked with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Bournemouth, and Everton. However, AC Milan and Inter Milan have been identified as his most serious admirers.
AC Milan & Inter Milan Leading the Charge for Mario Gila
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the two Derby della Madonnina rivals continue to follow Gila’s situation with great interest, considering him the right profile to strengthen their backlines. Inter need a new centre-back to replace the ageing Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij, while Milan could do with an upgrade on the likes of Matteo Gabbia and Koni De Winter.
Lazio Seeking €30 million to Part Ways with Gila
However, the Roman newspaper reveals that Lazio president Claudio Lotito isn’t willing to lose Gila on the cheap, even if the player’s contract will expire in June 2027 with no signs of a renewal on the horizon. The Biancocelesti patron has reportedly set his price tag at €25m-€30m, while taking into account Real Madrid’s 50% sell-on fee.
Therefore, Lotito will either sell the Spanish international on his terms or will simply keep him at Formello for another year. The second option would likely culminate with Gila leaving the Italian capital on a free transfer.
Gila’s Fate Could Depend on Lazio’s Finances
The source adds that the decision of the Serie A supervisory committee regarding the club’s finances could loom large over Gila’s future. Lazio will either be given the green light to operate freely on the market in the summer, or will be limited to a ‘zero-cost’ Mercato.
In the latter case, the Aquile would only be able to buy new players after selling some of their own, so Gila’s departure could become necessary to fund the club’s transfer campaign.
It makes sense. His value is €30m. BUT… since he’s on the last year of the contract EVERYONE will want to buy him for a discount. Especially Italian clubs, which are cheap. €15m – €18m is realistic range of serious offers. With 50% off to Real we are left with €7.5m – €9m for Gila. Really? Joke money. I would rather keep the player and his contribution on the field would be more valuable than those few millions.
However he will be 26 this summer. He surely already wants next big step in career. Plus he only earns €1m in salary. Maybe he will want to go rather sooner than later.
Mario is really one of the most complexed CB in the Serie A. His peice should to be at least 60Million € if we are looking what kind of player ratings and values are in football. The 50% sell on fee is an annoying thing, but we cannot do nothing with that, they made their previous purchase like this way, but his cheap price is a joke! We really have to keep him until the last day of his service, than he will be able to go freely whereever he wants. I’ll be very sad at that time, because I love to see him in our jersey, but football is just be like this.
Imagine buying Noslin for 17 mill …and trying to keep Gila on 1 mill a year!
Pay Gila and keep him here!
Is there any chance to give him a deserved salary increase and keeping him? If not, run down his contract coz his value is way higher than 30 mil. He is easily top5 serie CB