Football Season Guide

The past season was not an easy one for Lazio as they were unable to act in the transfer market, due to UEFA regulations. In an attempt to revamp their European ambitions and to reconnect the supporters to the club, President Lotito handed the reins of the team to Maurizio Sarri, who had left the Eagles only 1 year earlier. The start to the season made it immediately clear that Lazio would have to fight, as they won only 2 out of the initial 7 games. Also due to injuries that plagued the squad all over the campaign, Sarri had to keep tinkering and trying to find unpredictable solutions all over the XI but, despite that, they only briefly fell off the top 10, in mid-March. They eventually closed the season on the 9th spot, while losing the Coppa Italia final to Inter, thus remaining out of the European competitions for the second season in a row. At the end of such a troubled season, Sarri decided to go for pastures new and Lazio hired Rino Gattuso, coming off a huge disappointment with the Italian national team. He will not have an easy life, though, since Lazio are still unable to sign players freely and mainly had to strengthen the squad through free signings. First of all, they lost starting goalie Provedel, who was lured away by Inter, and Mandas, returning from loan at Bournemouth, will thus wear the shirt number 1. At the back, they sold starting centre-back Gila to Milan, while Romagnoli’s situation is unclear, as he wants to quit. Experienced Doekhi arrived from Berlin and is set to become a protagonist in the heart of the defence, while more signings are needed. Left-back Pedraza also arrived while Hysaj was let go. In the midfield, they lost starting Basic but Rovella is fully back from injury and young Galassi arrived from Real Madrid. Last but not least, the attack lost starting Maldini and aging Pedro but no replacement was signed yet.