Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso made some candid admissions regarding Franjo Ivanovic and Noah Markmann, who refused to join his project.
With only three weeks left before the end of the transfer market, the Biancocelesti still have several holes to plug in the squad. Thus far, the management has only signed Alfonso Pedraza and Danilho Doekhi on free transfers, while the coach had requested the arrival of another centre-back, plus a striker, and potentially an attacking midfielder.
In recent days, Lazio missed out on some of their primary targets, with the latest being Ivanovic. At the press conference following the friendly win over Frosinone (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Gattuso confirmed that the Croatian forward preferred to sign for RC Lens because they would allow him to play in the Champions League this season.
Let’s not beat around the bush. As for the striker, you know very well how it went. The club did everything to sign him and I spoke to the player. Benfica had given the green light, but he decided to go to Lens to play in the Champions League.What are we supposed to do? Nothing. Perhaps we made a mistake and should have spoken to the player earlier.
Let’s not beat around the bush. As for the striker, you know very well how it went. The club did everything to sign him and I spoke to the player. Benfica had given the green light, but he decided to go to Lens to play in the Champions League.What are we supposed to do? Nothing. Perhaps we made a mistake and should have spoken to the player earlier.
Lazio also had an agreement with FC Nordsjælland for Noah Markmann, but the 20-year-old defender refused to make the move, apparently because he sought a prominent role immediately.
The same goes for Markmann: he had asked me to play regularly, which shows you how football is changing. We cannot sign players just for the sake of it, but players who are functional to the way we want to play.I took responsibility for the transfer market, that’s a fact. I want players who fit our needs. Then, when these things happen, there is a lot of regret. Now we will get back to work and find those two profiles. When the striker arrives, we’ll see.
The same goes for Markmann: he had asked me to play regularly, which shows you how football is changing. We cannot sign players just for the sake of it, but players who are functional to the way we want to play.I took responsibility for the transfer market, that’s a fact. I want players who fit our needs. Then, when these things happen, there is a lot of regret. Now we will get back to work and find those two profiles. When the striker arrives, we’ll see.
Since the start of the summer, it has been reported that AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez is Gattuso’s ‘dream’ target in attack. However, the Calabrian coach insists he will only sign players who truly want to don the Biancocelesti colors.
The most important thing is that whoever comes here has to genuinely want to come. I’m not used to convincing players. In football, you cannot promise anyone anything; the pitch does the talking.If someone wants to come, they have to come here and put their helmet on, because that is what we need this year. If those conditions aren’t there, there’s no point.
The most important thing is that whoever comes here has to genuinely want to come. I’m not used to convincing players. In football, you cannot promise anyone anything; the pitch does the talking.If someone wants to come, they have to come here and put their helmet on, because that is what we need this year. If those conditions aren’t there, there’s no point.
on His Out of Lazio?
While Lazio are looking for a new striker, Petar Rakov could be on his way out, especially following Dynamo Moscow’s onslaught. Gattuso lauds the young Serbian centre-forward for the improvement he displayed in pre-season, but hinted that he prefers a more mobile player to lead the line.
I found a player who arrived in January, cost a lot of money and was used very little. His morale was extremely low, but we have now got him back into shape. We’ll see what the market offers us and make our assessments. He is a player who works hard, so we’ll see what happens.We are looking for specific characteristics; we need a particular type of striker. At the moment, teams are not playing based on fixed reference points, so you need players with strength and pace. Then again, it would be unfair to make these kinds of assessments, because it would be disrespectful to Ratkov. It’s not nice for him.But afterwards, we have to call things as they are: we are looking for this type of player. We are not looking for a name, but someone who can give us a hand. That does not take anything away from Ratkov’s qualities, and perhaps he will stay. That is the truth.
I found a player who arrived in January, cost a lot of money and was used very little. His morale was extremely low, but we have now got him back into shape. We’ll see what the market offers us and make our assessments. He is a player who works hard, so we’ll see what happens.We are looking for specific characteristics; we need a particular type of striker. At the moment, teams are not playing based on fixed reference points, so you need players with strength and pace. Then again, it would be unfair to make these kinds of assessments, because it would be disrespectful to Ratkov. It’s not nice for him.But afterwards, we have to call things as they are: we are looking for this type of player. We are not looking for a name, but someone who can give us a hand. That does not take anything away from Ratkov’s qualities, and perhaps he will stay. That is the truth.
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