Lazio Monitoring Italy U21 Captain Amidst Cagliari Struggles | OneFootball

Lazio are reportedly keeping tabs on Cagliari youngster Matteo Prati has been starving for minutes in recent months.

The Background

The Biancocelesti are looking to add a new midfielder to their ranks in January, and unless Gaetano Castrovilli departs, the new signing will have to be under the age of 22, as the senior list is already filled. In recent weeks, the Italian capital side has been linked with a host of young profiles in Serie A, including the likes of Reda Belahyane, Warren Bondo and Jacopo Fazzini, but a new name has now been added to the shortlist.

Lazio Following Matteo Prati

According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, the Aquile are also following Prati’s situation at Cagliari with great interest. The 21-year-old joined the Isolani from SPAL in the summer of 2023 and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Claudio Ranieri last season, earning him the interest of Roma who tried to acquire his services last summer but to no avail.

Struggles on the Island

However, this season has been strikingly different for the Italy U21 captain. While he was initially a starter, Davide Nicola swiftly dropped him from the lineup a few weeks into the campaign. Thus, Prati hasn’t started a match in two months, and he has been an unused substitute in the last seven Serie A fixtures.

Competitors & Asking Price

Therefore, the player’s agent is eager to move away from Sardinia to reignite the player’s career. But in addition to Lazio, the source names Fiorentina, Milan and Torino as potential suitors. As for the asking price, the report mentions how Cagliari were seeking €15 million in the summer, but the player’s unpleasant status could drive the price down to €10-11M.