Lazio President Claudio Lotito takes credit for ‘turning this club from a marginalised outcast to a prominent role’ and mocked rivals Roma for being ‘braggards and boors.’
The patron was speaking at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the club’s legendary and first 1974 Scudetto, including a new documentary and photography exhibit.
“Until a little while ago, Lazio were a marginalised outcast, but since I have been President, the club has taken on a prominent role, it has its say and even makes decisions,” said Lotito to news agency Ansa.
“One time we were the feeder club to Juventus, who came and took players from us. Instead, this summer we signed two players from them and that had never happened before.”
Those players are midfielder Nicoló Rovella and left-back Luca Pellegrini, both on loan with an obligation to buy, after they had been on loan at other clubs.
“I have given this club prospects for the future, teaching my son what it means to be Laziale. We hope to maintain a place in the Champions League.
“This initiative is important because it brings Lazio into the institutions. It all goes through the institutions, which are fundamental to avoid the deception that there was in the past.”
Lotito also hit out at rivals Roma, just days after insisting the Giallorossi should’ve already been declared bankrupt several years ago.
“Romanisti are loud, braggards and boors. We are the exact opposite. We show that Lazio is a different way of living.”
At the same time, Lotito also spoke to La Repubblica newspaper when asked why some of the Biancocelesti ultras had jeered at the statement before every Serie A game this weekend marking the remembrance of the Holocaust.
“We cannot be expected to take responsibility for a tiny minority, as 99.9 per cent of Laziali are good people.
“It was just a few kids joking around without knowing what they were doing. They were probably drunk or under the effect of other substances and wanted to impress their friends.”
Lazio had played that game with some sections of the Curva Nord closed due to racist chanting against Roma striker Romelu Lukaku during the Coppa Italia.
❌ #Lotito: “I romanisti sono caciaroni, spacconi. Noi tutto il contrario”.
🗣️ Il patron biancoceleste è intervenuto alla Camera dei Deputati durante l’evento per ricordare lo scudetto del 1974 “Meravigliosa – la Lazio più bella di sempre”@calciomercatoit pic.twitter.com/HMnjnbX9Lv
— Flaminia Laurenzi (@fllauu) January 29, 2024
Forza Lazio !