Claudio Lotito claims he rejected €160m for Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. “I don’t think any other President in world football would’ve done what I did.”
Milinkovic-Savic was heavily linked with moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs last summer but ended up signing a new contract with Lazio, and Lotito made it clear he was committed to building a ‘winning’ Biancocelesti.
Claudio Lotito claims he rejected €160m for Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. “I don’t think any other President in world football would’ve done what I did.”
Milinkovic-Savic was heavily linked with moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs last summer but ended up signing a new contract with Lazio, and Lotito made it clear he was committed to building a ‘winning’ Biancocelesti.
“We want to build a winning team and keep strengthening it, not weaken it,” he said at a school in Rome on his club’s 119th birthday.
“If I had another mindset, I would’ve sold Milinkovic for €160m, something I didn’t do. I don’t think any other President in world football would’ve done what I did.”
Lotito then responded to Matteo Salvini’s plans to reform safety procedures in Italian football.
“Like Minister Salvini said, responsibility is personal so everyone takes responsibility for their own behaviour,” he added.
“If I’m here today, it’s so behaving outside of the rules isn’t repeated and I’m trying to teach the little ones that you have to cheer for your favourite team while respecting the rules.
“Winning must be in compliance with the rules and without finding shortcuts. For those who don’t fit into this mechanism, they’ll be dealt with.
“Being a fan means being passionate, so for me fans are those who support their favourite teams in a passionate, emotional and empathetic way, while respecting the rules.
“As for those who make different choices, they’ll have to answer for them.”