Former Napoli defender Nikola Maksimovic, who is now a free agent, revealed that he was just a step away from joining Lazio before Simone Inzaghi’s move to Inter.
The 31-year-old Serbian centre back initially arrived in Serie A in July 2013 from Apollon Limassol, joining Torino for three years before he signed for Napoli. In Campania, Maksimovic made 99 appearances across all competitions over his five-year spell before leaving for Genoa, which he left at the end of last season.
Speaking to TMW, Maksimovic reflected on how he almost joined Lazio in the summer of 2021 after leaving Napoli.
“I was expiring with Napoli and Inzaghi wanted to bring me to Lazio. The deal was almost done and everything fell through when he decided to leave Lazio and go to Inter. He wanted me.”
He noted how the arrival of Maurizio Sarri in Rome changed things and revealed that the talks with Lazio were ongoing for some time before things collapsed.
“Yes, but already during the season. They were the first Italian team to look for me after it was understood that I wouldn’t renew my contract with Napoli.
“Simone, in a lunch with Immobile and Insigne, asked about me, Lorenzo at that point called me to tell me that Inzaghi wanted me and that there was this opportunity. I started thinking about it and after a couple of weeks we played Lazio in Naples.
“At the end of the game, I went into the Biancoceleste dressing room to ask for information. I spoke to Reina, to Milinkovic-Savic, everyone was calling me to tell me to join…. And I would’ve gone. But then it happened that Inzaghi left, Sarri arrived, and everything stopped.”
Over six months after leaving Genoa, Maksimovic is still a free agent and is currently training in Belgrade to keep up in fitness as he looks for a new club.
Over his career, the Serbian defender has made 146 appearances in Serie A and won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in the 2019-20 season.