Lazio defender Nicolò Casale is suing Fabrizio Corona for slander and defamation for alleging he was involved in gambling on sporting events. ‘This is someone who was already found guilty of extorting players.’
Casale is the second player named by gossip columnist Corona who has denied all the allegations and promised to take legal action, as Roma and Poland international player’s Nicola Zalewski also said via his lawyers that he will sue.
“Nicolò Casale has taken legal action against Corona and the editors who gave voice to the lies of someone with a long criminal record, who was already found guilty of extorting players,” read a statement from lawyer Guido Furgiuele.
“Nicolò has never placed a bet on any sporting event and it is unacceptable to see him put in the stocks purely on the word of a well-known delinquent, who is ready to do absolutely anything to get media visibility.
“We will pursue those responsible in every court until the truth is confirmed.”
Corona has indeed spent time in prison for amongst other things extortion, using pictures taken during his tenure as the so-called ‘King of the Paparazzi’ to demand money from players and their clubs in order to keep them out of the media.
He is now working with a website called Dillinger News, which specialises again in gossip.
The source for all his betting allegations is the uncle of a former Inter youth player called Antonio Esposito.