Speaking in an interview with Radio Serie A, as quoted by Gazzetta Dello Sport, Lazio president Claudio Lotito has claimed he turned down a huge offer for Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić from another Italian club.
Lotito, however, stated that Lazio never received a suitable offer from a foreign team. That’s despite longstanding reports of interest from a range of leading European sides in the now 28-year-old, who eventually left the Italian capital for Saudi Arabia this summer in a deal reportedly worth around €40m.
The only bid that met Lotito’s criteria was from another Serie A side, which he declined to name. However, he explained that the club was forced to turn it down. The Lazio president says this was due to a “commitment” he had made to then-coach Simone Inzaghi, and the offer came so late in that summer’s transfer window that the club did not have time to replace such a key player.
Continuing, Lotito says he was against selling the player this summer too, but Milinković-Savić stated he wanted to have “a new experience” after 341 games in all competitions for Lazio following his arrival from Genk in 2015, leading Lotito to allow a move.
Adam White | GIFN
