Several Serie A clubs are showing significant interest in Catanzaro midfielder Mattia Liberali, with Torino and Lazio emerging as frontrunners, according to reports in Italy. Catanzaro sporting director Ciro Polito has been fielding numerous calls regarding the 21-year-old, who the club signed on a free transfer from Milan last year, retaining a 50% sell-on clause for the Rossoneri.
Catanzaro are reportedly seeking a minimum of €6 million for Liberali, representing his release clause, payable in a single installment. Alternatively, they would consider a structured payment plan over multiple years, which would increase the total cost to €8 million. The decision will ultimately rest with the interested clubs, and the list of potential suitors continues to grow.
Sassuolo, under new manager Fabio Aquilani, were the first club to express concrete interest. Aquilani previously coached Liberali last season and is reportedly attempting to persuade him to move to Emilia-Romagna. Bologna and Como are also studying the possibility of signing the promising talent, while Fiorentina recently made an initial inquiry.
Torino’s interest is particularly notable, driven by manager Ivan Juric, who previously worked with Liberali during his time with Milan’s Primavera squad. Juric reportedly regrets not bringing Liberali to Juventus Stabia last year, believing he underestimated the player’s potential to impact Serie B. He is now personally pushing for his acquisition. However, a strained relationship between Torino president Urbano Cairo and Liberali’s agent, Alessandro Lucci, could complicate negotiations.
Lazio are also pursuing Liberali, leveraging the strong relationship between president Claudio Lotito and both Catanzaro and Lucci. Their pursuit is expected to intensify from the beginning of July. Napoli and Juventus are also monitoring the situation from a distance, suggesting a potential bidding war could develop in the coming weeks. Liberali enjoyed a successful season with Catanzaro, establishing himself as a key player in midfield.
