Ryotaro Ito ‘offered’ to Lazio as free agent | OneFootball

According to Japanese reports, Lazio have been offered free agent Ryotaro Ito.

When the Italian window closed in early September, Lazio submitted their Serie A squad list, omitting Patric and Luca Pellegrini to leave two places. Diogo Leite arrived a few days later to take one, and Gennaro Gattuso opposed a move for Mauro Icardi. This leaves one slot available.

Lazio can still recruit a free agent, including a non-EU player. The report said the club have not yet shown openness to the idea, and whether that stance changes remains to be seen.

Ito is an attacking midfielder noted for his technical quality and long-range shooting. He can also play as a winger, a second striker, or in a deeper midfield role.

The Osaka native has represented several Japanese clubs, including Urawa Red Diamonds. His only spell abroad was three years with Belgian top-flight side Sint-Truiden, which ended this summer.

Since arriving in July, Gattuso has stuck with Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3, believing it best suits the squad. Lazio also signed Albert Gudmundsson as an attacking midfielder or second striker, and his role remains unclear. The report suggests Ito could face the same issue and that Gattuso will most probably turn the proposal down.

Source: The Laziali

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”