Alessio Romagnoli admits his lifelong dream was ‘not to play in Serie A, but to play for Lazio’ and he has been working on following the footsteps of his idol Alessandro Nesta for several years.
The centre-back is from Rome and has always supported the Biancocelesti, even though he started his career in the Roma youth academy.
After a loan spell at Sampdoria, he joined Milan for €25m in 2015 and was finally able to wear the Lazio jersey this summer as a free agent.
“I think my childhood dream has finally come true, because it was not to play in Serie A, but to play for Lazio,” said Romagnoli on the official Lazio website.
“My grandmother, who I was very close to, was a Lazio supporter, and so is my father. I think this is the greatest emotional moment of my sporting life, but also my life in general. Wearing this jersey really is a childhood dream come true.”
The Italy international has never disguised his status as a Biancocelesti fan, even when playing for rival clubs.
He even tried to always choose the Number 13 because that was the shirt worn by his hero Nesta.
“I think Nesta was the best defender of all time. Nobody can ever represent what he did for Lazio and Milan, it cannot be repeated.
“I got to meet him via mutual friends and again last year in Milan.”
Romagnoli refused a contract extension at San Siro and was released as a free agent this summer, but the reports of a move to Lazio have been long in the background – and he admits there was truth to it.
“Every time I played against Lazio, I would tell (director of sport Igli) Tare: ‘There are two years left. There’s one year left. There are six months left… If it’s possible, we’ll see.’
“I always said that I wanted to play for Lazio and didn’t want it to be too late in my career. Ciro Immobile and Danilo Cataldi have been calling me practically every day!”
seriously – how is this footy news
Wonderful, our former captain was flirting with Lazio the whole time lol
Romagnoli refused an extension? More like Milan didn’t even offer him one.
OK, that seriously put his professionalism in question, and I’m quite disappointed to hear that from our former captain.
If Nesta is his role idol, then he didn’t learn Nesta’s true value as a person.
Nesta became a captain in Lazio and legend both for Lazio and Milan because of his loyalty, sacrifice and professionalism.
i can’t say the same for this guy.
If this guy really want to be in Lazio, he could’ve asked Milan to sell him before his contract runs out.
Milan will get profit and Lazio will have to earn him, proofing that both the club and players mutual respects.
Also, if this guy is a Lazio fan, why did he start at Roma ffs?
Did he failed the test in Lazio or smth?
Some weird fish this guy. Good riddance by Maldini and Milan.
Less mercenaries. We need more player who is proud to play for Milan jersey.
@ Mohammed This is exactly football news which explains a lot of things. Chill out and enjoy.
Welcome to lazio …hope you will have a great career with us
“Every time I played against Lazio, I would tell (director of sport Igli) Tare: ‘There are two years left. There’s one year left. There are six months left… If it’s possible, we’ll see.’
Now i see his professional level are trash level. I agree with @square above.
How could you say something like that while playing for Milan. Just asked for transfer like a man did.
Good luck playing in low level club lol.
Best of luck Alessio. Following in his hero’s footsteps by playing for Milan and Lazio. Relax, the rest of you, he hasn’t just killed your puppy or bonked your missus.
Pfff reading just nonsensical criticism from all of these online righteous and on their high horse perfect human beings.
Alessio deserves nothing but respect. His attitude and dedication to Milan was without question. He was the one shining light of consistency throughout many years in the doldrum. He got to the end of his contract, the club didn’t offer him a new one, and he got the opportunity to play for a club he has supported all of his life. That is practically the dream of most football fans.
It would be good for Lazio to make a bid for Rugani and gather him again with Romagnoli and Sarri.
@Rosario
Absolutely. People are quick to forget he was carrying that defence for a while. Would love to have kept him as a squad option but you can’t say he doesn’t deserve a move to wherever he wants. It’s not as if he’s the only player to ever talk to the hierarchy of another club whilst still under contract. That happens all the time.
DB Milan
Hypocrisy and double standard. We get excited and feel honoured if a player of another club declares their admiration for Milan and wanting to play for the club. But if its one of our own players, then he’s a traitor bla bla.
Completely agree. I’d have loved for him to have stayed with us. But I appreciate that he wouldn’t have been guaranteed regular starts, so he has gone somewhere where he can get that. And it just happens to be his boyhood club.