In a candid and comprehensive address, Lazio’s sporting director, Angelo Fabiani, took to the club’s official radio to discuss recent events and provide an update on the transfer market. Fabiani confirmed that Lazio is still active in the transfer market, stating, “It’s not closed; we need to bring in one more player. Coach Baroni has requested an attacking winger to complete the squad.”
However, Fabiani ruled out the possibility of signing James Rodriguez, acknowledging him as a great player but noting, “He is over 33 years old and has only played a maximum of 10-12 games in recent seasons.” Instead, he hinted at the potential addition of a player under the age of 22, saying, “Our list for players over 22 is already full, so bringing in a player born in 2003, 2004, or 2005 wouldn’t pose any issues according to regulations.”
Despite exploring younger talents, Fabiani remains open to the acquisition of a more experienced player if the opportunity arises. “If there’s a chance to sign someone who can enhance our squad, then we’ll have to make room by omitting someone from the current list,” he explained.
Fabiani pointed out that a key transfer target, Mason Greenwood, has opted for a different route. “We offered Manchester United £22 million (around €25 million) and proposed that they retain 50% of any future resale, but Greenwood chose to go to Marseille instead, who paid a similar fee for him.”
Overall, the Lazio director expressed satisfaction with the transfers made thus far, highlighting the addition of interesting players like Gaetano Castrovilli. He noted that Castrovilli is currently following a rehabilitation program not due to an unresolved knee injury, but to address muscular imbalances resulting from recovery from a serious injury.
On speculation regarding a potential decline at Lazio, Fabiani denied such claims, asserting, “That’s not the case; we are reconstructing. It was an inevitable transition because the previous cycle had come to an end. Revitalization can only come through young players. Building takes time, but we have a three-year plan that will certainly bear fruit.”
He also touched on the youth sector, reflecting on the recent loss of promising talent Sardo, who decided to move abroad. “He chose to go abroad, and unfortunately, the regulations allow this and do not protect clubs that develop young players. Milan wanted him but only offered €400,000, which we rejected. I just hope that his move abroad (to Saarbrücken in Germany’s third division) isn’t just a temporary step before returning to Italy. If it is, we won’t just sit back and watch.”
Furthermore, addressing young talents from the academy, he responded to Sanà Fernandes, who has recently called for more playing time. “He’s a 2006 player who trained with the first team and will continue to do so. We paid €500,000 for him and have signed a contract. In other words, we’ve invested in him. Misguided by others, he made this statement because some may want him to move elsewhere. If that’s the case, the proper course is to speak with us, as we hold the rights to his contract.”