Lazio’s work on the squad is being shaped as much by the balance sheet as by the next team sheet. The departure of Patric to Al-Ittifaq has further clarified the club’s direction: contracts running to 2027 are not being treated as automatic renewal cases, while a younger group is being given greater importance.
The decision
Patric completed his move to Al-Ittifaq on Tuesday evening. Had the defender remained in Rome, he would have found himself outside the central plans alongside Luca Pellegrini, who is not in the squad list.
Sporting director Angelo Fabiani had already set out the club’s position on both players, saying that there are footballers “who are not part of the future plans”.
Patric follows Ivan Provedel, Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli out of Lazio after their contracts approached expiry in June. The first three were sold, while Samuel Gigot left after an agreed termination. There was no substantial push towards new deals for that group, although Gila’s situation was considered briefly and without a realistic prospect of an agreement.
The financial aim is to reduce the wage burden. Pedro, Toma Basic and Elseid Hysaj left in the summer, removing around €10 million in gross annual salaries. Yet the overall calculation has not moved fully in Lazio’s favour.
The fixed wages for Javi Pedraza, Danilho Doekhi, Galassi and Andrea Pinamonti amount to €8.97 million in the accounts published for the year ending 30 June. Josip Sutalo, Davide Frattesi and Albert Gudmundsson account for a further €11.02 million.
Meanwhile, the exits of Provedel, Gila, Romagnoli and Artistico reduced salary costs by €10.72 million, with Boulaye Dia and Ratkov representing savings of another €4.65 million. Gigot’s settlement removed €2 million of wages from the remaining €3.5 million due to him, although Lazio paid an exit incentive worth €1.04 million net.
Incoming salaries total €19.97 million, while departures since July have brought a €15.37 million reduction before the Gigot saving is included. Patric’s sale will offer an additional benefit, but not a major one: his gross pay was €3 million and his expected severance payment is slightly above €1 million.
The distinction matters because the club’s enlarged labour-cost ratio will influence the scope of Lazio’s January market. A partial or complete registration restriction remains possible.
Lazio have argued in their financial report that the FIGC measure did not prevent them from strengthening the men’s first team while continuing to lower the average age of the group. That renewal remains the guiding principle.
The contracts still to settle
After Patric’s exit, the players with deals ending in 2027 are Pellegrini, Matteo Cancellieri, Danilo Cataldi and Manuel Lazzari. Each faces an uncertain summer, though Cancellieri appears to have the clearest path towards an extension.
Cancellieri had previously spent time away from Lazio, first at Parma and then Fiorentina, but Gennaro Gattuso stopped a further departure on the final day of the transfer window. If the forward maintains a satisfactory level, the coach’s view could carry weight when Lazio make their June decisions.
Cataldi is again dealing with a muscular problem after surgery for pubalgia, having already lost a month. His relationship with Lazio has gone through difficult periods and reconciliations. He stayed last season because of the complete market block, but his next step remains open.
Lazzari had been expected to leave but stayed. Now 32, he could depart in January or leave when his contract expires. Pellegrini’s position is more immediate, having been excluded from the listed squad.
If Patric’s departure is followed by exits for Cancellieri, Cataldi, Lazzari and Pellegrini without transfer fees, Lazio would cut more than €12 million in gross wages.
From January, attention will also turn towards the 2028 contracts. Nicolò Rovella and Gustav Isaksen are among the more significant cases, alongside Adam Marusic and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Romano Floriani Mussolini is also due to expire in June 2028; despite having the lowest salary among Lazio’s regular and near-regular players, his renewal is already regarded as a priority.
