Maurizio Sarri Reveals Lazio Transfer Strategy, Rejecting Lucrative Offer & His Favorite Roma Derby

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The Laziali

·17 de junio de 2025

Maurizio Sarri Reveals Lazio Transfer Strategy, Rejecting Lucrative Offer & His Favorite Roma Derby

In an exclusive interview with Sportitalia and The Laziali journalist Alfredo Pedulla, returning Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri tackled several topics, beginning with the club’s summer transfer plans.

Lazio’s Transfer Strategy

The 66-year-old rules out a squad overhaul, but expects the management to make the right adjustments to strengthen the team.

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I expect the squad to be adjusted to make it more suited to my characteristics, but I know the situation and I know very well that there will be some additions, but without upheavals.

Turning Down Money for Passion

Sarri reiterated the reasons behind his decision to resign from his post in March 2024, insisting that the club’s internal problems weren’t too dire. He also revealed he received an astronomical offer to coach in Saudi Arabia.

When you have family and health problems, you are not in the mental condition to tolerate normal work problems. They were normal issues, nothing sensational. This year too I had talks with a Saudi team, where I would have earned in one month as much as I’m making at Lazio in a full season. But since last year, I said that I would go where my heart would lead me, not money.

Sarri Recalls Lazio Heartbreak vs Bayern Munich

The Tuscan also revisited the double header against Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16, revealing what his former Juventus pupil Matthijs de Ligt had admitted to him at the time.

[Had Immobile scored the header] It would have given us more hope, as Bayern were a bit nervous. It would have certainly given us an advantage, but they were stronger than us. De Ligt told me that he thought if we had taken the lead [in the return leg in Munich], we could have gone all the way. The spirit of the Bavarian team was really low.

Luis Enrique, a Role Model

Sarri agreed that Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is the best in the world, urging Italian clubs to take note of his possession-based football.

At the moment, yes. Enrique is competing with Guardiola, who hasn’t had an exceptional season. PSG are playing very well and I have admired with great pleasure the choices he has made. In Italy, right now, everyone is arguing in favor of direct football. But when you look at the top European teams, you notice that the best are Portugal, Spain and PSG. They are all ball-playing teams. So what are the pundits looking at?!

Sarri Reveals His Best Two Career Achievements

The veteran tactician identifies his second-place finish with Lazio in 2022/23 as his best career achievement, alongside the Scudetto he won at Juventus.

I had fun at Napoli, even though we didn’t win. The players and the fans had fun too. But the two miracles of my career were winning the Scudetto with Juve when the team was at the end of its run, and the second place with Lazio. Europa League with Chelsea? They were a strong team and could have won that trophy anyway.

Derby della Capitale Success

Finally, Sarri discussed his impressive track record in the Derby della Capitale, pinpointing the very first as his favorite.

We hope to replicate our success in derbies. I have played very important matches, but I have never felt the sense of exhaustion that you feel after a Derby. It weighs on you all week, but it really hits you when the referee blows the final whistle. Only then do you realise the week that has just passed I won four, with one draw and one defeat. The first one was beautiful. It was very hard fought, then the emotion that the first Derby win leaves you with was so extraordinary. The derby lost 0-3 was hard, I was ashamed to go to Formello. It was a very tough week