Lazio surprised Serie A: after a summer of controversies and protests, the Roma team finds itself at the top of the table, equal to Inter, with five wins in six games. The recent draw against Milan is the only result that does not reflect the defensive solidity and offensive effectiveness of the team, which has reorganized itself thanks to a "zero cost" transfer approach and a coach determined to restore competitiveness.
The change was driven by a sell-before-buy strategy. The summer saw the exit of Romagnoli, Provedel, Basic, Gigot, Hysaj, Pedro and Patric, with a total of around six million euros. The loan performances of Ratkov and Dia further strengthened the team. The twist was the farewell of Mario Gila, sold to Milan for 30 million euros, an amount that covered and exceeded Lazio's transfer costs. The Spanish center forward has, in just one year, financed a series of acquisitions that have given immediate results.
Among the new arrivals, the most expensive was the buyout of Dia, two years after his arrival in Rome, despite the fact that he was then loaned to Rennes. Frattesi was taken on loan for five million, with the possibility of a ten-million redemption at the end of the season. Pinamonti arrived from Sassuolo for three million plus bonuses that can increase the price up to twelve. Other transfers include Sutalo's loan from Ajax, Gudmindsson's loan from Fiorentina and the acquisition of free agents such as Doekhi, Pedraza and Diogo Leite. The result is a team that, despite having spent less than the 30 million earned by Gila, shows performances above expectations.
Coach Gattuso underlined that Lazio is aware of the difficulties in reaching first place, but is determined to work to improve. "We're not just interested in the title, we know the difficulties, our stage isn't easy. We have a path, that of work. We'll see where we get, but we have to live day by day," he said. With the team in form and the coach focused on results, Lazio seems ready to continue their run in Serie A and also aim for Europe, with the prospect of a more ambitious future.