Former Lazio captain Cristian Ledesma reveals he’ll quit Santos and is open to joining Atalanta.
The midfielder returned to South America over the summer for Brazilian club Santos after 15 years in Italy between Lecce and Lazio.
He can’t keep away and is in Rome for the Christmas holidays.
“I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t want to go back to Brazil and will end my contract early,” he told calciomercato.com.
Former Lazio captain Cristian Ledesma reveals he’ll quit Santos and is open to joining Atalanta.
The midfielder returned to South America over the summer for Brazilian club Santos after 15 years in Italy between Lecce and Lazio.
He can’t keep away and is in Rome for the Christmas holidays.
“I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t want to go back to Brazil and will end my contract early,” he told calciomercato.com.
“I can’t stand being away from my family for so long. I was there for three months to see what it was like, but I realised my family was too important. I wasn’t used to moving around, as I was at Lecce for five years and then nine at Lazio.
“I will terminate the contract with Santos and I had already included a clause allowing me to do so straight away.”
This opens the door to Serie A and specifically Atalanta, where ex-Lazio Coach Edy Reja said he’d gladly sign him.
“I do have a good rapport with the Coach, but Atalanta have many players in my position. We know how the market works, so never say never, especially if someone leaves in January.”
Lazio have been struggling in recent months, but ended a seven-round winless streak by surprising leaders Inter.
“It’s a difficult club to work in,” noted Ledesma. “That wasn’t always the case, but it has become harder since President Claudio Lotito arrived.
“At this moment it’s a very complicated situation, but that is only down to what has gradually been created over the past few years.
“Players usually have a difficult rapport with Lotito because he is a very unusual person. I hope things go better for the club.
“I left because I realised there was no playing time for me. It’s fundamental for a player to be on the field consistently and the club made other choices.
“Stefano Pioli was always very clear with me, as I was with him. He preferred to focus on other players. I hope for him and for Lazio that they can improve results.”