Lazio Transfer Market: No Contract Extension, No Move to Atalanta—Alessio Romagnoli Explains His Decision to Join Al Sadd
Lazio Transfer News: No contract extension—but also no move to Atalanta—for Alessio Romagnoli, who, after weeks of rumors, has chosen Qatar and Al Sadd, officially joining the Middle Eastern club on Thursday. At the same time, the defender introduced himself to his new fans, explaining his decision to join the club that will be his home for the next three years, and bid farewell to his old fans in a video posted on social media.
“I’ve always been a fighter, a defender, a leader. Soccer has taken me to incredible places; now it has brought me to Doha. A new chapter, a new jersey. I’m Alessio Romagnoli, and I’m an Al Sadd player,” said the defender, born in 1995, in a video released by his new club. While describing his new destination as “incredible,” he didn’t want to forget his old one: “I feel lucky because my dream has always been to play for Lazio,” he said in his final farewell to the Biancocelesti fans. “ I felt loved from day one, even when I wasn’t here.”
“I’ve always tried to return that love and the trust that all the fans had in me. My biggest dream is that many children like me, who dream of wearing this jersey, can make that dream come true because it really is the most rewarding and beautiful thing. Thank you so much to everyone; it’s been a wonderful journey, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. Unfortunately, it’s over, but, as you know, even good things come to an end. I’m sure we’ll see each other soon cheering on the team. Thank you,” reads Romagnoli’s final farewell to Lazio and Serie A. His former coach, Maurizio Sarri, might have given him a new opportunity at Atalanta.
According to figures circulating in recent hours, the Roman defender will earn approximately 20 million euros at Al Sadd through 2030—a salary that makes it clear just how financially irresistible the move to Qatar was. This deal definitively brings to a close a saga that lasted all summer, punctuated by non-soccer-related obstacles: the death of former Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani and geopolitical tensions linked to an attack on an oil well had prompted the Qatari ministry to freeze investments in the sports sector, effectively stalling negotiations as early as January and again in the weeks that followed. Vincenzo Raiola, the defender’s agent, who stated that Al Sadd still wanted Romagnoli but could not sign any agreement until the ministry’s budget was unfrozen, adding that he could not imagine his client’s future with Lazio anyway—words that sparked furious reactions from many fans on social media.
Romagnoli’s departure is part of a broader process of revamping Lazio’s defense. During this transfer window, the Biancocelesti had already bolstered their defense with the signings of Doekhi and Sutalo, while they’ve also parted ways with Gigot, who terminated his contract. Both the Frenchman’s contract and Romagnoli’s were set to expire in 2027: Claudio Lotito therefore preferred to cash in now rather than risk losing both players on a free transfer. To fill the void left by the Roman center back, Lazio is reportedly keeping a close eye on Diogo Leite, a defender who has been without a club since his stint at Union Berlin; however, Milan and Torino are also vying for his signature.
As for Atalanta, however, the move for Romagnoli never materialized despite weeks of rumors and the expressed interest from Maurizio Sarri, who knows the defender’s strengths very well from his time at Lazio. The Nerazzurri, grappling with a defensive crisis caused by the transfer of Berat Djimsiti to Al-Diriyah and Isak Hien’s serious injury, had secured the necessary funds through the sale of Ahanor for 48 million euros. However, with the transfer window closing, the Qatari option ultimately prevailed, leaving Atalanta to look elsewhere for solutions for its back line.
