Lazio continued their war of words with Keita Balde Diao after the striker insisted he was not lying about an injury.
The Senegal international suffered a knock during training on Friday and tests were negative, but he continued to feel pain on Saturday and asked not to be included in the squad to face Atalanta.
Coach Simone Inzaghi was “stunned” and warned he would “only play those who are proud to wear the Lazio shirt.”
Lazio continued their war of words with Keita Balde Diao after the striker insisted he was not lying about an injury.
The Senegal international suffered a knock during training on Friday and tests were negative, but he continued to feel pain on Saturday and asked not to be included in the squad to face Atalanta.
Coach Simone Inzaghi was “stunned” and warned he would “only play those who are proud to wear the Lazio shirt.”
Keita went on Facebook to respond, angrily assuring “nobody can doubt my word” and he was told by medical staff not to risk it by playing against Atalanta.
Lazio released a statement on their official website written by team manager Angelo Peruzzi.
“I am still looking for the person who apparently told Keita not to risk it against Atalanta. I realise full well, having played for 20 years, that strong pain in the knee can lead you to say and do things you didn’t want to.
“In any case, knowing the lad is so fond of the team, the shirt and the fans, I immediately activated five members of the medical staff to treat him in the afternoon, so he could recover as soon as possible.
“Such a shame then that he didn’t turn up. I understand him, as evidently the pain in his knee was so bad that it made him stay out doing whatever it is he liked to do.”
The situation with Keita was already tense earlier this summer when he refused to attend pre-season training in protest at the “lack of respect” shown by the club.
It was believed he was trying to push for a transfer, but this latest setback could well send the striker elsewhere.