Lazio” data-scaytid=”1″>Lazio chief Claudio Lotito has discussed his club’s failure to sign Burak Yilmaz, Fabio Quagliarella and Fabio Borini.
Lazio chief Claudio Lotito has discussed his club’s failure to sign Burak Yilmaz, Fabio Quagliarella and Fabio Borini.
The capital club were close to signing Turkish international striker Yilmaz, but the transfer broke down at an advanced stage.
“A deal had been done with Galatasaray, you can phone their President and ask,” Lotito told the Corriere dello Sport.
“Yilmaz would have cost us €13m in cash, plus a further €2m in bonuses. Everyone was in agreement, I was sure we could close and then I get an email from his agent.
“He outlined the details of the bonuses and salary agreed – €2.8m a season net. And then he asks me for a further €2m when the player signed.
“I was having none of it. It was extortion. It’s the fault of a system that needs changing, I’m calling for new rules.
“I phoned UEFA President Michel Platini too. UEFA and FIFA need to act.”
Turning to Quagliarella, Lotito claimed that he had also wrapped up a deal for the Juventus striker – only for Roma to ruin that move.
“A fee of €6m was agreed with Juventus and Quagliarella wanted us because he would have had more opportunities to play.
“But Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini didn’t give Marco Borriello to Genoa, so Gilardino stayed where he was [instead of joining Juventus].”
The Biancocelesti were also pondering a bid for former Roma striker Fabio Borini, who subsequently left Liverpool for Sunderland on loan.
“His name was under consideration, but Liverpool didn’t want to sell him outright and they preferred to keep him in the Premiership.”