Alessio Romagnoli ‘could stay’ at Lazio as Middle East war clouds Al-Sadd move | OneFootball

Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Alessio Romagnoli’s Lazio future remains open, with a departure not yet a certainty.

The 31-year-old accepted a pay cut to join in summer 2022. President Claudio Lotito had promised a significant pay rise upon Champions League qualification, then backtracked in 2023, souring relations.

In January he was close to Al-Sadd, but the move collapsed at the last moment after he reportedly refused to waive three months of salary at Lotito’s request. The Qatari giants had vowed to try again in the summer.

Developments in the Middle East could now derail that plan. The report says Roberto Mancini’s position at Al-Sadd is uncertain due to the war, and he has been Romagnoli’s main sponsor in Doha. Without him, and if conditions remain unstable, the defender would be reluctant to move.

He could instead be open to extending his stay at Lazio, which he still regards as home, at least for another year.

His contract runs until June 2027, so he may stay through to its end and explore free agency the summer after, or rethink his future at Formello if he makes peace with Lotito.

Source: The Laziali