Luca Pellegrini’s wait at Lazio appears close to ending. The full-back has continued training at Formello while the club prepares to restore him to its Serie A squad list, with a decision expected before Sunday’s trip to Juventus unless there is a late change of plan.
The decision
Pellegrini has remained available to the coaching staff despite his absence from the league registration list. Gennaro Gattuso had already made clear, before the Monza match, that he does not regard the player as separate from the group.
“It is a decision for the club, and they know what I think,” Gattuso said. “For me, Luca is fully a Lazio player. He has never been outside the squad, he has made himself available and he also played in the friendlies with us.”
The practical deadline is Saturday. Lazio must include Pellegrini among the players eligible for Serie A if he is to travel to Turin and be available against Juventus.
The departure of Patric has altered the club’s room for manoeuvre. Lazio now have two free places within their 25-man Serie A list, and one is expected to be assigned to Pellegrini. It would bring a prolonged administrative situation to a close and return the defender formally to the championship picture.
Sunday’s picture
The Juventus away match could therefore mark Pellegrini’s return to league availability. For Lazio, the issue is less about a new arrival than restoring a player who has continued to work with the side at Formello, waiting for the club’s final step.
