Alessio Romagnoli, the former captain of AC Milan, has expressed his heartfelt wish to conclude his professional football career at Lazio. However, as he embarks on a new chapter with Al-Sadd in Qatar, he reflects on what could have been during his time with the Biancocelesti.
Romagnoli, who began his career at AS Roma, has been a lifelong supporter of Lazio. In the summer of 2022, he realized his dream by signing with the club, despite having other lucrative offers on the table. His decision was influenced by a promise from Lazio president Claudio Lotito, who assured him that his salary would be adjusted if the team qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
During the 2022/23 season, Romagnoli played a crucial role in helping Lazio secure a second-place finish in Serie A, which would normally have been a cause for celebration. However, the promise made by Lotito was never fulfilled, leading to growing tensions between Romagnoli and the club's management. This breakdown in communication and trust made a separation seem increasingly likely.
After attempting to secure a move to Al-Sadd since January, Romagnoli's efforts are finally coming to fruition. Negotiations had previously stalled twice, once in the winter transfer window and again in July. However, with the Qatari transfer market closing soon, Romagnoli is now poised to finalize his transfer, marking a significant shift in his career.
As he prepared to leave for Qatar, Romagnoli shared his feelings in an interview with Sportitalia, revealing his disappointment about leaving Lazio. "It’s the end of an era. It was a great journey. I’m happy, although disappointed with how it ended, but I believe it was the right decision for everyone," he stated. He also mentioned that he had expressed his desire to finish his career at Lazio to Lotito, but unfortunately, he never received a response.
Romagnoli took a moment to thank his former teammates and coach Gennaro Gattuso, emphasizing the positive experience he had with the squad. "It was an intense two months because it’s a great group, and the coach is a fantastic person. I’d like to thank them because they allowed me to train and made me feel part of the group," he noted. He also mentioned that he had made his decision to leave in January, as there had been no negotiations from Lazio's side.
Reflecting on his time at Lazio, Romagnoli highlighted his fondest memory as the day he signed with the club. He also reassured fans that he hopes to return to the stadium in the future, expressing his desire for the situation at Lazio to stabilize. "I hope to see the fans soon. When the right time comes, I’ll definitely go to the stadium with them," he promised.
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