Lazio director Igli Tare reveals regrets over Barcelona's Rafinha, praises Ravel Morrison and plays down missing out on Gonzalo Bergessio.
The Albanian sporting director considered today the Aquile’s recent work in the January transfer window, which saw them secure Mauricio Dos Santos Nascimento on loan, and Wesley Hoedt and Ravel Morrison for the summer.
Whilst fans have again been critical of the club’s work in the market this winter, the former striker considers his biggest regret as coming last summer.
Lazio director Igli Tare reveals regrets over Barcelona's Rafinha, praises Ravel Morrison and plays down missing out on Gonzalo Bergessio.
The Albanian sporting director considered today the Aquile’s recent work in the January transfer window, which saw them secure Mauricio Dos Santos Nascimento on loan, and Wesley Hoedt and Ravel Morrison for the summer.
Whilst fans have again been critical of the club’s work in the market this winter, the former striker considers his biggest regret as coming last summer.
“My greatest regret is Barcelona's Rafinha,” Tare has said to Lazio Style Radio 89.3 today.
“He was coming to Lazio, he accepted the transfer in the summer, everything was done.
“Unfortunately Luis Enrique messed up all of our plans. When the Blaugrana decided to rely on him, the player went off the market. He would have been an important signing, one that would have raised the team's technical level.
“People are saying that I already have a deal for a striker for the next season, but that's not the case. I heard of [Marseille's Andre-Pierre] Gignac, but I can guarantee that he was never contacted.
“Inter contacted us for [Cristian] Ledesma, but we never opened proper negotiations, because they never called us back. Ledesma is an important player, with footballers of his kind we always discuss the terms for a renewal and we'll do the same with him.”
Tare also discussed Ravel Morrison, who will join Lazio from West Ham United in the summer.
“The qualities of Morrison are out of the norm. I contacted the player personally to discuss his situation and he told me of all his personal problems related to his past. It's going to be a challenge, but I trust the lad.
“He struck me because he does not reflect the philosophy of English football. Instead he is the best expression of high-level football.
“We must all learn from our past mistakes. What happened with [Mauro] Zarate must be a warning.
“When the imagination of the tifosi is stimulated, there's the risk that a younger player can feel immortal and invincible.
“Morrison can become really important, if everyone does their part.
“As for Mauricio, we'd have signed him even if [Wesley] Hoedt had arrived in January. We preferred the Argentine because of his characteristics, he is a left-footed defensive leader. We needed to find an expert defender to plug the holes left by the injuries.”
Finally, the director took a more general perspective on the transfer window.
“In the past we made some mistakes and we're aware of that. In this period we spoke with [Coach Stefano] Pioli and understood that our weak point was the defence, so we signed Mauricio.”
Tare and Claudio Lotito are under scrutiny once more for their transfer work, having seen a last-minute move for Gonzalo Bergessio break down.
“The agent of [Sampdoria's Gonzalo] Bergessio contacted me, but I told him very clearly we had no necessities in the attack.
“We go ahead with our certainties. [Miroslav] Klose showed that he was in form, while [Brayan] Perea needs time and support to show he can make the difference.
“Against Genoa the game is going to be hard, in the last few years they always won so it's time to change. The loss against Cesena shows you how hard the league is this year.”