Lazio explain failed Casadei transfer from Chelsea and Pellegrini situation | OneFootball

Angelo Fabiani claims Lazio were forced to include Abakar Sylla in a deal to sign Cesare Casadei from Chelsea, so they dropped the Italian midfielder, while Marco Baroni decided to cut Luca Pellegrini from the Serie A list for the second part of the season.

The Biancocelesti had been in talks to sign Casadei from Chelsea for several weeks, but the ex-Inter midfielder ultimately joined Torino on a permanent transfer.

Fabiani explained Lazio’s transfer moves during a press conference on Wednesday.

“I am criticized for Casadei. Some think I’m harsh, but I have a sense of humour,” the Lazio director said via TMW.

“If people don’t get it, that’s not my problem. Fazzini and Casadei were part of a strategy I was developing. When people say the coach desperately wanted Fazzini, that’s not true. He never objected to any signing. Had Fazzini arrived, he would have welcomed him just as he welcomed Belahyane. Fazzini was on a list of potential midfielders. If Belahyane is at Lazio, it’s because the coach approved the move.”

Lazio explain failed Casadei transfer from Chelsea and Pellegrini situation

Cesare Casadei of Chelsea passes the ball during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Chelsea FC and KAA Gent at Stamford Bridge on October 03, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Lazio signed Belahyane from Hellas Verona on the deadline day, while Fazzini remained at Empoli.

“The Fazzini deal didn’t go through, and the Casadei deal could have, but I don’t believe in forced marriages,” continued Fabiani.

“I refuse to have another player imposed on me. I’m talking about Sylla—if I’m interested, I will pursue him separately. But if he is forced upon me, I will walk away, even from the Casadei deal.”

Sylla plays for Ligue 1 side Strasbourg and was also linked with Parma and Southampton during the January transfer window. It is believed that intermediaries tried to push both Sylla and Casadei to Lazio, given that the pair has different agents.

Lazio surprisingly dropped left-back Pellegrini from their Serie A list for the second part of the season and Fabiani explained that it was a coach’s decision.

“I wonder why the same considerations were not made at the beginning of the season when the same list was drawn up, and Hysaj was left out,” Fabiani argued.

“The fox eats the devil’s advice, and I am not the devil. The list evaluation is the coach’s responsibility. The coach makes decisions based on his future plans or immediate needs and provides us with his choices, compiling a list.

“As a club, we must endorse what the coach decides. We undermine his authority if we do not support the coach’s decisions. And when you delegitimize your leader, your commander, it marks the club’s downfall.

“Respect for roles is essential. The decision regarding Pellegrini and the reintegration of Basic was based on the coach’s belief that he [Basic] could be more functional to his vision. Everyone has a specific role, and each must respect the other.”

Fabiani added that Lazio rejected offers for Alessio Romagnoli and Nuno Tavares during the January transfer window.

The Biancocelesti sit fourth in the Serie A table and finished first in the league phase of the Europa League, qualifying for the Round of 16.