Lazio Transfer Market: A Race Against Time for Romagnoli—His Future Will Be Decided Now

Romagnoli’s future is still up in the air. The Lazio center back has been in talks with Al-Sadd for some time. For various reasons, the deal has never reached the final stages. Just when it seemed like the deal was finally going through, a new obstacle has arisen.

The problem appears to be financial. The Qatari club is expected to pay Lazio three million euros to secure Romagnoli’s release, but it has no intention of doing so immediately and would prefer to spread the payment out over time. This arrangement does not sit well with Lazio at all.

In fact, there are only a few hours left (the Qatari transfer window closes on Thursday, September 3) to get a deal moving that is currently at a complete standstill. Lazio is willing to let Romagnoli go (he has a hefty salary of about five million euros gross) but wants the agreed-upon three million euros immediately.

Should the move to Al-Sadd fall through for good, Lazio coach Gattuso could count on Romagnoli at least until the next transfer window, in January. In short, the future of the center back, born in 1995, is being decided right now, in these very hours.