Last summer, one Manchester United player was denied the chance to swap the Premier League for Serie A.
Fred, shortly before his eventual £13 million switch to Fenerbahce, found himself on the radar of Italian giants Lazio. But while Claudio Lotito was a big admirer of the battling Brazilian, that admiration was not shared by the man occupying the Stadio Olimpico dugout at the time.
“I was prepared to open talks with Man United and bid for Fred,” Lazio president Claudio Lotito told Il Messaggero. “But Maurizio Sarri told me no. He doesn’t want Fred.”
12 months on, Marco Baroni is the man in the Biancocelesti hot seat these days. How Sarri’s replacement feels about the idea of Mason Greenwood making the same move the slipped through Fred’s fingers remains to be seen.
Though one Lazio legend is hoping that – this time around – an agreement will be struck to bring a Manchester United player to Rome.
Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood in Lazio talks
“Very important player,” Bruno Giordano tells Radio Sei. “It would be an important coup, one that the fans always hope for. A footballer who can play in multiple roles, who creates havoc, and would make the difference in our championship.”
According to the Daily Mail, Lazio opened talks in midweek about a potential £30 million deal for the one-time England international. Man United certainly will not stand in his way. A substantial sale, meanwhile, would go a long way to easing United’s Profit and Sustainability Concerns too.
Greenwood, due to his homegrown status, would count as ‘pure profit’ in Financial Fair Play concerns. His sale could also free up funds for United to step up their interest in Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.
Giordano, meanwhile, has seen enough to suggest that Greenwood’s arrival would bring a ‘top level footballer’ to the Lazio ranks. The Carrington graduate won Getafe’s Player of the Year award after a fine loan spell in La Liga, his performances showcasing the raw talent of a footballer capable of making the grade at Real Madrid or Barcelona.
“The fact that the club values this type of player means that there has been an awareness of the lack of quality players in the squad. The former Getafe player is a top level footballer,” adds Giordano, who played over 200 Serie A games for Lazio before joining Napoli in 1985.
“You hardly end up playing for teams like Manchester United by chance.”
Juventus are also keen on Greenwood.
Serie A giants eyeing potential swap deal
According to the Rome-based publication Il Messaggero, Lazio chief Lotito held discussions with the United bosses on Thursday. He reportedly put forward the idea of a player-plus cash deal which would see highly-rated, 22-year-old goalkeeper Christos Matsos move in the other direction.
The Red Devils have already been linked with one Serie A shot-stopper in the last few days.
Fabrizio Romano, however, made it clear on his official X account that – contrary to reports – Manchester United had ‘no interest’ in Genoa’s Spanish star Josep Martinez. The Grifone glovesman is expected to join Italian champions Inter Milan imminently instead.
“Inter and Genoa will discuss today (Wednesday) to close the deal for Josep Martinez,” Romano explains.
“Talks at the final stages now. Josep Martinez’s move to Inter is imminent. Final details being sorted then it will be done this week.
“No interest from Man United despite recent links.”