Lazio Confirm Maurizio Sarri As New Manager

Maurizio Sarri has just signed his contract as Lazio manager until June 2023.

The Serie A giants issued a cryptic tweet on Wednesday morning, using just an emoji of a cigarette before going on to publish an image of a playing tracksuit and a bank.

All items were a nod to Sarri, who is known all over football for his tendency to smoke on the touchline, where permitted, while also wearing a club tracksuit as his staple attire.

Sarri, a former bank manager, has signed on the dotted line until June 2023 and will oversee a new era for Lazio.

As reported by Sportsmail, to do this he wants to bring in a host of players who he has worked with before, with Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek topping the list.

The Italians are soon set to carry out Sarri’s wishes and approach the Blues for Loftus-Cheek, in a move which is understood to initially comprise a loan deal with an obligation to buy thereafter.

Sarri knows Loftus-Cheek well, having already trained the attacking midfielder during their time together in London, when Sarri briefly took charge of Chelsea and led the club to Europa League glory.

The midfielder’s contract at Stamford Bridge is valid until 2024 but the last season was spent on loan at London neighbours Fulham, after he was deemed surplus to requirements in the tactical project of former boss Frank Lampard.

Sarri arrives in Lazio at a time of great managerial shake-ups for Italian football.

In a frantic few weeks, Antonio Conte has left his title-winning Inter Milan side and been replaced by Simone Inzaghi, whose departure from Lazio has prompted Sarri’s appointment.

Likewise, Jose Mourinho has been unveiled at Roma and will provide direct competition for Sarri in the Italian capital next season, while over at Juventus club legend Andrea Pirlo was sacked after one season in charge and replaced by the returning Max Allegri.