Lazio ‘to seek’ exemption to sign 35-year-old free agent Alessandro Berardi amid goalkeeper crisis | OneFootball

Lazio are exploring the signing of 35-year-old free agent Alessandro Berardi to ease a goalkeeping crisis, though registration rules could block a deal.

La Lazio Siamo Noi reports the club have moved to bring the academy graduate back to Formello. No.1 Ivan Provedel is out for the season with a shoulder injury, and third-choice Alessio Furlanetto has also been sidelined, leaving Edoardo Motta as the only available first-team option.

Berardi came through Lazio’s ranks without a first-team appearance, later featuring for Salernitana, Grosseto, Messina and Bari. He then spent seven years at Hellas Verona, making three appearances, and has been unattached since leaving last summer.

Italian clubs cannot add free agents after 31 March, so Lazio intend to seek an exemption from Lega Serie A. Club figures are not optimistic, which could force an internal solution.

Maurizio Sarri has already promoted 17-year-old Giacomo Giacomone following Provedel’s injury, with the teenager on the bench for the last five Serie A matches. If Berardi cannot be registered, another Primavera goalkeeper may be called up to complete the three-man group.

Source: The Laziali