Lazio Line Up Two 2006 World Champions as Potential Sarri Successors

With Maurizio Sarri’s future shrouded in mystery, Lazio have reportedly identified Fabio Grosso and Gennaro Gattuso as potential solutions.

The Background

Sarri returned to the club for a second tenure last summer, but he’s been hindered by the circumstances. These include a summer transfer ban, the sale of key players in January, and a fan protest resulting in a stadium boycott.

The 67-year-old has kept the ship afloat, with the team lying 8th in the Serie A standings, and still in contention for the Coppa Italia. However, his fate remains largely uncertain.

Maurizio Sarri Could Leave Lazio in the Summer

As reported by Il Messaggero, Sarri is willing to extend his stay at Formello, but he’s seeking some guarantees on the transfer market. In any case, the source doesn’t expect the manager to hand over his resignation as he did in March 2024, and thus give up on his €2.5 million yearly salary, unless he receives an enticing offer from another club.

The Italian tactician reportedly has suitors in Fiorentina, AC Milan, Bologna, Atalanta, and even his former employers Napoli, who could part ways with Antonio Conte.

Lazio Considering Fabio Grosso & Gennaro Gattuso

According to the Roman newspaper, if Sarri ends up leaving Lazio, the management could turn to either Grosso or fellow 2006 World Cup winner Gattuso.

Grosso has been enjoying a successful stint with Sassuolo. He guided the club back to Serie A after dominating the second tier last season. The Emilians currently sit 10th in the standings, and they have the 48-year-old under contract until June 2027.

Gennaro Gattuso Available After Leaving Italy

On the other hand, Gattuso is currently unattached after recently resigning from his post in the Italian national team. The Milan legend failed to guide the Azzurri back to the World Cup, but at this stage, most fans and pundits agree he wasn’t the main culprit behind the nightmarish scenario, as Italian football’s problems run much deeper.