Lazio director Igli Tare outlined transfer dealings with Alexandre Pato, Enner Valencia, Mario Jardel, Adriano and more after Marcelo Bielsa’s rejection.
The Coach announced he would not be taking the job just two days after the club deposited his signed contract with the Lega Serie A.
Lazio director Igli Tare outlined transfer dealings with Alexandre Pato, Enner Valencia, Mario Jardel, Adriano and more after Marcelo Bielsa’s rejection.
The Coach announced he would not be taking the job just two days after the club deposited his signed contract with the Lega Serie A.
Simone Inzaghi has been appointed instead, having already taken charge of the side in April when Stefano Pioli was sacked.
“We wanted to create an important project with a long-term contract for one of the most important Coaches in the world,” said Tare in a Press conference.
“He rejected this and the offer of one year plus an option for another season based on certain objectives. He rejected that too, so we reached a verbal agreement on a one-year contract.”
Bielsa claimed in his statement that Lazio broke the terms of the contract by not signing any of the players he requested, but Tare denied that.
“We got the all-clear from Bielsa for Jardel and Adriano, as well as other objectives. We agreed four signings: a centre-back, a left-back, a winger in case Antonio Candreva leaves, and a striker.
“In Argentina, Bielsa is doubting the buys of Jardel, Adriano and Ajeti. I went to France in order to view (Albania defender Arlind) Ajeti and buy him.
“It’s true we wanted a player called Llorente, but it was not the Sevilla one Fernando, it was the Real Madrid player. It was a dry loan for €500,000, guaranteeing he’d play 80 per cent of games from the start.
“On the left, Bielsa had proposed (Chile international Jean) Beausejour. He would’ve been the alternative to Adriano. I am currently negotiating for a player at Euro 2016.
“Enner Valencia wants Lazio, but we cannot be in control of the timing of negotiations. By the end of next week we were set to have two buys, one of them Valencia.
“So we did get the four players Bielsa requested. He wanted another €30m on the market and we did that.”
Bielsa was particularly angry at the failure to capture Alexandre Pato.
“I was in talks with Pato and met his agent here in Rome on Wednesday to formulate a four-year contract proposal, an economically important one.
“From the first day, Bielsa knew what Lazio’s salary standards are and the players with the highest wages. I can say Pato would’ve been one of the three highest-paid players at Lazio, close to Miroslav Klose’s deal.
“Bielsa wanted Pato at all costs and guaranteed to me he would get the best out of Pato. He’s a talented player with quality, but also physical problems.
“I spoke to Pato and he said he wanted to stay at Corinthians until December 30. For personal reasons, Pato did not want to leave Brazil.
“I put Bielsa in direct contact with Valencia, Pato and another player I will not name. Bielsa told us in 37 years as a Coach he had never seen a club so eager to have him. We had hoped, with the personal rapport that was created, things would go well.
“Unfortunately, his nickname speaks volumes.”
Bielsa is known as ‘El Loco’ – the crazy one.
“I got to know an exceptional person and I always told him how great it would be for Lazio and Serie A to have Bielsa here. From the start I knew what bringing Bielsa to Lazio would mean.
"We did have a bit of a lively discussion the night before he sent that message. It was regarding Pato, as he heard from a third party that there were problems due to figures that were absolutely not close to the truth. I put him in contact directly with Pato's agent to clarify the situation.
"Unfortunately yes, there are people who try to put a spanner in the works for the Lazio project."