A rift has emerged at Lazio, as coach Maurizio Sarri wants to sell Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, a move the club’s board strongly opposes.
Super Eagles star Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is the subject of a major transfer debate at Lazio, where Coach Maurizio Sarri is pushing for his immediate sale in January, while the club’s sporting director insists on keeping him.
According to a report from Soccernet.ng, Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has become the focus of a “critical deadlock” at Italian club Lazio.
The disagreement pits head coach Maurizio Sarri against the club’s transfer hierarchy over the player’s immediate future.
The 24-year-old joined Lazio from Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor last year for €3.4 million. Although he impressed in Turkey, his time in Rome has been turbulent, marked by both injuries and managerial instability.
Dele-Bashiru has been sidelined with a muscle injury since the end of September and appears to have fallen out of favor with Sarri.
The coach’s position is clear. According to Lazio Press, Sarri has told the club to sell Dele-Bashiru in the January transfer market, as he does not deem the Nigerian as central to his plans.
This push, which also includes wanting to sell Reda Belahyane and Tijjani Noslin, is linked to Lazio’s financial struggles and the need to “help the club raise money for other signings later on.”
However, Sporting Director Angelo Fabiani, who is noted as having the final say on transfers, is resisting the move and does not want the Super Eagles star to leave yet.
Due to this internal resistance, the report predicts that Sarri would likely have to wait until next summer before he gets his wish.