Claudio Lotito has reiterated that Hernanes wanted to leave for Inter, and that his sale has been to Lazio’s benefit.
The Brazilian playmaker completed a late switch north to the San Siro outfit, to end three-and-a-half years with the Aquile.
“The player wanted to leave. What could I do? We could not keep a player who was unhappy here until June,” mused club President Lotito on the deal, to reporters today.
“Either we change the rules when they want this, or the club will always submit to the will of the players.
Claudio Lotito has reiterated that Hernanes wanted to leave for Inter, and that his sale has been to Lazio’s benefit.
The Brazilian playmaker completed a late switch north to the San Siro outfit, to end three-and-a-half years with the Aquile.
“The player wanted to leave. What could I do? We could not keep a player who was unhappy here until June,” mused club President Lotito on the deal, to reporters today.
“Either we change the rules when they want this, or the club will always submit to the will of the players.
“Hernanes had an agreement with Inter and he wanted to go away. I was clear with him. I told him that if he wanted to go, he had to say it.
“I want to publicly thank Sergio Floccari and his agent for their decision to leave now [for Sassuolo] when he could have signed for free with any club from February 1.
“There are agents who earn millions taking players away from clubs on free transfers. Hernanes’ sale is not an operation against Lazio, but in favour of the club because it allows us to focus on the future with those players who have accepted our project.
“It is not like Hernanes had decided already not to renew his contract [expiring in June 2015]. He remains a great person, a great man and I continue to think that.
“There are personal choices and I do not allow myself to make judgements. Lazio, however, are second to none, only second in economic terms.
“We have a clear plan in our minds, both for the present and for the future. We have included many young players in the squad, including the likes of Keita, who serve to strengthen us. The rest is chatter. Sporting objectives cannot exclude those which are economic.
“Lazio are a club that is regulated, in response to Financial Fair Play. No longer is it true that those who spend the most will win. And I have said this for 10 years now.”
Edy Reja bemoaned over the weekend that ‘players do not want to come to Lazio’, after failed bids on deadline day.
“I can say some names, there is no issue. Quagliarella declined, he wanted to stay in Turin, Biabiany was proposed to us by [Parma President Tommaso] Ghirardi, we had an agreement and then the player turned down a sumptuous offer.”