Keita Balde Diao’s agent accuses “inexplicable” Lazio of conducting “a public trial” against his client.
The forward was not called-up to face Atalanta because of a knee injury, but Coach Simone Inzaghi and the club in general believe the Senegalese international was faking in order to force a move.
“The behaviour of the Lazio directors is inexplicable,” Roberto Calenda said in a statement.
Keita Balde Diao’s agent accuses “inexplicable” Lazio of conducting “a public trial” against his client.
The forward was not called-up to face Atalanta because of a knee injury, but Coach Simone Inzaghi and the club in general believe the Senegalese international was faking in order to force a move.
“The behaviour of the Lazio directors is inexplicable,” Roberto Calenda said in a statement.
“Instead of protecting, they’re casting doubt on his word and sparking a public trial against the player.
“Keita was hurt in training. Unfortunately neither [team manager Angelo] Peruzzi nor his five members of staff had the foresight to accompany the player to the clinic where doctors, after tests, told him to rest as he had a slight trauma to the knee.
“Keita could be back in the group during the week to prepare for the next game against Juventus. The problem is that the Coach mysteriously decided not to protect his player, but to attack him publicly and question his word.
“Keita hasn’t defected from anything, since he wasn’t called-up due to injury and since he hasn’t missed any regular training sessions. The result is everyone is against Keita – unjustly!
“The reality though is that the player, as the professional he is, never intended to be disrespectful to anyone. Obviously he can’t play if he has hurt his knee.
“In conclusion, there are no negotiations going on for Keita, so he has no reason not to play.
“On the contrary, he wants to get on the pitch because, despite the difference of opinion, he’s a Lazio player.
“That’s why I say the club should support their forward rather than attacking him publicly just to win back the support of fans who are disappointed, saddened and in a constant state of protest.”