Alessio Romagnoli has completed a permanent transfer from Lazio to Al-Sadd, the club confirmed on Monday. The deal is reported to be worth €3.5 million, a significant decrease from the approximately €10 million offer received during the January transfer window.
Romagnoli joined Lazio in 2022 following the expiration of his contract with AC Milan, where he had previously won Serie A. Despite receiving more lucrative offers from clubs like Fulham, the defender opted to sign for his boyhood club, reportedly with a promise of a contract extension should Lazio qualify for the Champions League. He achieved that goal, helping Lazio to a second-place finish in Serie A during the 2022-23 season, but the promised contract renewal never materialized.
This, combined with a perceived downturn in the team’s overall quality, led to a breakdown in trust between Romagnoli and the club. A move to Al-Sadd was initially agreed in January, but Lazio president Claudio Lotito ultimately reversed his decision, unwilling to weaken his squad. Romagnoli continued to perform professionally, scoring a crucial goal against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia semi-final, but ultimately experienced disappointment in the final, losing to Inter.
Lazio are now considering Diogo Leite, a 27-year-old left-footed centre-back currently a free agent after leaving Union Berlin, as a replacement for Romagnoli. However, they face competition from Eintracht Frankfurt, who are currently considered the frontrunners to sign the Portuguese international. The departure of Romagnoli marks the end of a short but complex chapter at Lazio, while opening a new opportunity for the player in Qatar. The arrival of Leite could bolster Lazio’s defensive options ahead of next season, though his final destination remains uncertain.
