Igli Tare Eyeing Reunion With Lazio Defender at AC Milan | OneFootball

AC Milan sporting director Igli Tare is reportedly aiming to snatch Mario Gila away from Lazio once the opportunity presents itself.

Igli Tare & Maurizio Sarri Never Saw Eye to Eye During Their Time at Lazio

The Albanian has long been associated with the Biancocelesti, having spent the last three seasons of his career at Formello, followed by a 15-year stint as sporting director. The 52-year-old eventually vacated his post at the club in 2023, and as Il Corriere della Sera (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) recalls, he had a strained relationship with Maurizio Sarri in his final years at the club.

The Mario Gila Case

The two men never shared a unified vision for the club, with the head coach requesting top-notch signings capable of making an immediate impact, and the director instead investing in unsung young players available on the cheap. The newspaper also recalls the Gila case, as Tare felt he was ready for a prominent role upon his arrival in 2022, but Sarri only started playing him a year and a half later.

Mario Gila (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

In any case, the Spaniard has now established himself as one of the finest centre-backs in Serie A. However, the Biancocelesti risk losing him for a relatively low fee, as his contract will expire in June 2027, not to mention that Real Madrid are owed a 50% sell-on fee.

Igli Tare Looking to Bring Gila to AC Milan

As the source explains, Tare is hoping to seize the opportunity to sign Gila again, this time as a Milan director. The Aquile will be hoping to renew the defender’s contract as soon as possible, but they must first lift the transfer ban.

Moreover, finding an agreement with the Gila’s entourage might not be an easy task for Claudio Lotito and Co. Hence, the club might be urged to sell him in the summer and register a capital gain, rather than risk losing him for free a year later.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen if the 25-year-old will be fit enough to start against Milan in Saturday’s big Serie A showdown, having suffered a slight knock during Sunday’s 2-0 win over Lecce.