2 giorni fa
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The coach is waiting for him, and he is keen, but Milan are currently unwilling to sanction a loan.
For Rino Gattuso, this could be the move that takes Lazio to the next level. The coach has identified Santiago Gimenez as his primary target for the centre-forward role in the Biancoceleste squad he is building. It's a very complicated operation. The Mexican striker has reportedly indicated his basic availability to Gattuso during several phone calls, although the player is waiting to assess any further opportunities that might arise in the transfer market. The main sticking point, however, is the transfer formula. Milan are currently unwilling to consider Lazio's proposal for a loan deal with an option to buy, even if conditional. The Biancoceleste club, operating on a zero-balance transfer market (outgoings must match incomings), cannot afford financially heavy acquisitions. Therefore, Lazio are biding their time, monitoring Gimenez's situation to evaluate any potential openings in the final rush of the transfer window. Gattuso has made it clear he is prepared to wait.
Operation Revival
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The new Biancoceleste coach has highlighted to Gimenez how Lazio could be his opportunity to reignite his career. His seven goals in 18 months at Milan have tarnished his reputation as a prolific scorer, a label he earned with 65 goals in 105 appearances for Feyenoord. The 82 goalless minutes at the World Cup further added to his struggles. A significant ankle injury and subsequent operation last winter also took their toll. Since returning to the pitch, he has failed to make an impact, with his last goal dating back to 23 September, against Lecce in the Coppa Italia. He returned from the World Cup with a sprained right ankle – the one he had operated on – and has since remained at Milanello for treatment while the Milan squad is in Australia. Under the new Rossoneri regime with Amorin, there appears to be no place for him, as Camarda is set to be Goncalo Ramos's understudy. For Gattuso, Gimenez represents the ideal solution for the centre-forward role in both the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations planned for the new Lazio. Furthermore, 'Ringhio' is banking on the 25-year-old Mexican's age to restore him to his previous high standards and reclaim the international goalscorer status he once held. For Lazio, this offers the chance to bring in a quality centre-forward following Castellanos's departure last January.
This article was originally written in Italian by La Gazzetta dello Sport editor. The English version has been generated using AI translation tools. If you notice any translation errors or have suggestions, please contact us at iniziativegazzetta@rcs.it
