Star Defender Poised to Leave Lazio Amid Contract Dispute with Lotito | OneFootball

Lazio ace Alessio Romagnoli could reportedly leave the club in the summer amid a breakdown in a relationship with the hierarchy. According to Corriere dello Sport, the 30-year-old is a lifelong Biancocelesti supporter, but club president Claudio Lotito has let him down.

Fresh off lifting the Scudetto as Milan captain in 2022, Romagnoli left Stadio San Siro to fulfill his childhood dream and join Lazio. He turned down several foreign advances to sign a five-year contract at the Stadio Olimpico, hoping to hang up his boots in the capital.

However, that could prove nothing more than wishful thinking. The Italian center-back accepted a €3 million per season net salary with a promise of an increase should Lazio secure Champions League qualification. Despite helping the club return to Europe’s top table in his first season, Romagnoli’s contract terms remain unchanged.

Indeed, Lotito has not lived up to his word. That incident marked the beginning of a rift between the two parties. Despite Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani’s attempts to repair the relationship, it has become irreparable. Therefore, Romagnoli has set one foot outside the Olimpico.

Though his form in Rome has not always been consistent, there’s no shortage of interest in the Lazio stalwart. Calls from the Premier League keep coming, while it’s hard to discard the possibility of a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia.

Romagnoli may not be the only high-profile departure this summer. Manchester City have set their sights on Lazio star Nicolo Rovella amid Pep Guardiola’s effort to revamp his midfield options.