[dukeofdavinci]

Lotito lets Rocchi back in Saturday 29 September, 2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lazio President Claudio Lotito has ended months of deadlock by inviting Tommaso Rocchi to contract renegotiations.

The striker has been publicly furious with the club since the summer, when they refused to discuss a pay rise despite his impressive performances over the past three seasons, scoring 45 Serie A goals.


“Lazio construct solid rapports with its players. He is important to us both as a person and in football terms,” assured President Lotito in the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport.’


“I am not worried. We need to meet up to reach an agreement and we are ready to cover the distance to negotiate with the player. We’ll see what happens.”


Time is running out, as Rocchi – who scored a brace in the 3-1 win over Cagliari midweek – suggested he now has only “a 50 per cent chance” of remaining at the Olimpico.


He helped the side reach the Champions League and in the next few days Lazio will face Reggina and Real Madrid.


“The Reggina game is a very important one, as it prepares us for Real,” continued Lotito.


“I am satisfied because I had calculated Lazio’s growth over the space of three years and now we are in the Champions League. Our journey is tied to our desire to improve, but we have a long way to go yet.”

channel4.com - Football Italia