Sarri Calls Lazio Stalwart, Urges Him to Join Him at Atalanta | OneFootball

Atalanta manager Maurizio Sarri has contacted Alessio Romagnoli to offer him an escape route from his Lazio woes.

The Background

The 67-year-old had returned to Lazio last summer for a second managerial spell. But following a bizarre campaign hampered by injuries, a transfer ban and the sale of key players in mid-season, his relationship with club president Claudio Lotito hit rock bottom, with the two men often trading barbs in public. Therefore, the Tuscan coach’s exit at the end of the season was inevitable.

Alessio Romagnoli Keen to Leave Lazio Amid Lotito Disagreements

Like Sarri, Romagnoli also shares a poor relationship with Lotito, chiefly due to broken promises regarding a pay raise dating all the way back to 2023. But unlike his former coach, the defender’s exit has yet to materialize, despite bidding the fans farewell twice this year, the second time on July 4 through a video display during a major Anti-Lotito march on the streets of Rome.

Romagnoli was supposed to finally join his long-time suitors Al-Sadd, but the club hasn’t been able to make a transaction due to financial restrictions imposed by the state of Qatar amid the unrest in the Middle East. The defender has been reinstated in the squad, putting him in a rather awkward situation.

Maurizio Sarri Contacts Romagnoli

Luckily for the 32-year-old, Atalanta are ready to offer him an alternative escape plan. According to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Sarri personally contacted his former player, inviting him to join him at Atalanta.

The former Napoli and Chelsea head coach had always considered Romagnoli an untouchable player in his tactical scheme at Lazio, entrusting him with marshalling the backline. However, the former AC Milan captain is reluctant to accept, as he was hoping to end his story in Italian football with his beloved Aquile before moving abroad.

Atalanta Await Romagnoli’s Answer

A definitive answer is awaited in the coming days, with Sarri and La Dea expected to keep pushing. Lazio had agreed to sell the defender to Al-Sadd for €3 million due to his expiring contract, so it remains to be seen if Lotito’s asking price will change when negotiating with a Serie A rival.