Lazio president on Greenwood offer and Immobile sale | OneFootball

Lazio president Claudio Lotito explained the negotiations for Manchester United exile Mason Greenwood and opened up about Ciro Immobile’s sale to Besiktas.

The Biancocelesti have been hard at work revitalising their squad this summer following the departures of Luis Alberto and Felipe Anderson, bringing in numerous reinforcements including Nuno Tavares, Tijjani Noslin and Loum Tchaouna.

Lazio are starting a new project under former Hellas Verona coach Marco Baroni and have started preparations for the 2024-25 season, where they’ll also compete in the Europa League following their seventh place finish in Serie A last term.

Lotito on Lazio plans

Speaking to Il Messaggero via TMW, Lotito first gave an update on Lazio’s talks for Manchester United forward Greenwood.

I offered €25 million plus 50% on future resale, plus bonuses and commissions. Yet several teams have emerged to disturb us.

After Juventus and Napoli, it seems that everyone is turning up. Maybe they are terrified that we can get him and they want to blow everything up.

The Biancocelesti president explained why Immobile was sold to Besiktas.

He asked to be sold, like Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto. They understood that their cycle was over and they had to accept it.

Even the club, despite the affection demonstrated several times, understood that the time had come to start again with a new, broader project. I repeat, it is not a question of downsizing.

He commented on the status of Valentin Castellanos and the interest in him.

They offered us a lot for Taty, but we won’t give him up because we believe in him. And we think that he can finally unlock himself and demonstrate all his value, without the natural weight of having someone who made the history of Lazio ahead of him.

Finally, Lotito discussed the uncertain future of Pedro at Lazio.

I’m not kicking anyone out, he still has one year left on his contract, and he hasn’t taken a step back. We have many leaders in the locker room, you heard how Gila spoke like a mature man.

We need patience, obviously time, but I’d like to feel more confidence in what we are rebuilding. At least wait before making a definitive judgment. I don’t like preventive criticism.