Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Monday, 02 February 2026 21:10 / Updated Monday, 02 February 2026 21:10
The saga surrounding Alessio Romagnoli, Lazio's central defender, has taken on a new tense episode. Romagnoli, 31, did not extend his contract with Lazio, although there had been a verbal agreement for a salary of €6m per season, with the defender later asking for a further €600,000. The negotiations broke down definitively, and the contract was not extended.
Although he was very close to a move to Al Sadd, the move fell through at the last minute and the player's agent, the club's manager, revealed shocking details about the negotiations with the Romanian club.
Total blockage at Lazio
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the defender has stopped participating in training to force his departure and would also consider presenting a medical certificate citing psychological stress, after three meetings with Maurizio Sarri did not lead to any solution.
Romagnoli had accepted the offer from Roberto Mancini-coached Al Sadd club, frustrated by the repeated and unfulfilled promises of Lazio president Claudio Lotito for a pay rise.
The player seemed determined to leave and even waved goodbye to the Lazio fans after the match against Lecce, but the following day the club issued an official statement announcing that Romagnoli was not for sale.
Agent explains: “Everything was done, then everything changed”
Enzo Raiola, the player's agent explained the situation in an intervention on Radio Sportiva:
“The game against Lecce was supposed to be Alessio's departure, but the next day Claudio Lotito changed everything.”
Negotiations with Al Sadd were resumed on the last day of the mercato, but too late:
“The Qataris had made an offer 10 days before. Lazio asked to increase it, they refused. After a stalemate, Lazio accepted the offer… but there was no time left. It all fell through at the last minute.”
Alessio Romagnoli // PHOTO: Imago Images
Serious allegations: “They asked him to give up three salaries”
The most explosive part, however, came when Raiola spoke about the outstanding wages:
“Lazio asked Alessio to give up his last three salaries. It is a mode of operation that makes no sense.“
The agent continued in an extremely harsh tone:
“It is absurd to be in January and the players have not received three or four salaries. Asking a player to give up their due money is insane. Given the current situation, the renewal is a closed topic. The contract expires in 2027, and now we will see what happens in the summer”, concluded the central defender's manager.
