Andrea Belotti’s ex-agent Sergio Lancini claims he was ‘betrayed’ by the Roma striker and doesn’t understand why the ex-Torino captain didn’t join Chelsea or Milan in 2017.
Belotti left the Granata at the end of his contract in June, joining José Mourinho’s Roma on a free transfer. His former agent Lancini reveals that he has sued his ex-client who suddenly burned bridges with him in 2017.
“His first two seasons at Torino were extraordinary, so much so he received attention from many top clubs, including Chelsea, Milan and Atletico Madrid,” Lancini told Tuttosport.
“Andrea scored 26 goals in 2016-17 and these clubs made important moves for him. Why didn’t he leave? Honestly, I still don’t know. I can say that while I was offering him these opportunities, he asked me to change the terms of our agreement.
“After that, he suddenly disappeared, he was no longer available on the phone and didn’t talk to me anymore. I received a message three months later where he asked me not to speak on his behalf.
“Only two years later, I discovered that he had extended his contract with Torino in 2017. I was still his agent then, but I knew nothing about it.
“Unfortunately, lawyers will do the talking now. I’ve never received compensation for my job and I was forced to go to court.
“There are currently two proceedings worth €5m in court. The first concerns compensation for terminating my mandate, which prevented me from negotiating a transfer or a contract extension with Torino. The second is about the breach of contract to manage his image rights.”
Lancini said he was Belotti’s first-ever agent, having begun to represent the Italian striker while playing for Albinoleffe in Serie B.
Belotti joined Torino from Palermo in 2015 for circa €9m.
He went on to score 113 goals in 251 appearances during his seven-year spell at the Stadio Grande Torino, becoming the captain in the summer of 2017.
Belotti was part of the Italy squad that won Euro 2020 last year and has signed a one-year contract with Roma, with an option for a further campaign in the capital.
No pity for the greedy agents.