Could Pellegrini or Patric Get Reinstated in Lazio Squad List? | OneFootball

When Lazio released their Serie A squad list at the start of the month, the big surprise was the omission of Luca Pellegrini and Patric.

Why Lazio Excluded Luca Pellegrini & Patric

While it was evident that the two defenders are at the bottom of Gennaro Gattuso’s pecking order, observers thought they would still retain their places in the squad. Instead, the Biancocelesti preferred to leave two vacant slots, with Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani later explaining that the idea was to make room for potential late arrivals on free transfers.

One Spot Up for Grabs

The Italian capital club has since signed Diogo Leite, who filled one of the two available spots. The club was also contemplating a move for Mauro Icardi, but Gattuso insisted he’s happy with his current options in attack. Therefore, one spot remains available, while two senior players remain on the outs.

Lazio’s Plans for Patric & Pellegrini

According to Il Messaggero, there are no immediate plans to reinstate either Pellegrini or Patic in the coming weeks. That being said, the Spanish defender still has some hope of making his way back to the squad at some point. On the contrary, the Italian left-back is expected to remain out until January, when he’ll be placed on the transfer market.

Why Patric is More Likely to Return Than Pellegrini

At the moment, Gattuso already has five full-backs vying for two roles in the shape of left-backs Nuno Tavares and Alfonso Pedraza, plus right-backs Adam Marusic, Romano Floriani Mussolini, and Manuel Lazzari. Therefore, Pellegrini is considered surplus to requirements.

(Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

On the other hand, Lazio currently have four centre-backs in the squad: Josip Sutalo, Oliver Provstgaard, Danilho Doekhi, and Leite. Hence, an experienced profile like Patric could serve as an additional option, not to mention his status as a locker-room senator.