Lazio sporting director responds to Luis Alberto: "Contracts are there to be respected"

Lazio sporting director Angelo Mariano Fabiani responded on Saturday to the statements made by Spaniard Luis Alberto, who said he would not continue at the Roman club next season, referring him to the 2028 contract he signed in October 2023.

The Spaniard sparked fears at the club after the 4-1 win over Salernitana, in which he contributed an assist, by unilaterally announcing that he will not continue with the Italian side next season.

"I hope to enjoy the last few games and then we'll see. It's been difficult weeks, I won't be part of the project next year, I asked the club to release me from my contract and I don't want to receive one more euro," the Andalusian told 'DAZN' after the game.

"I will leave the next four years of my contract to others, it is fair to take a step away from this club that has given me so much. I think the time has come to leave my salary for others," he added.

An issue that the club wanted to address through Fabiani and the club's official media. "The matter will not go unnoticed in the eyes of the club. Contracts are there to be respected, not only when it suits one party. We don't have to have a war with anyone, but we don't accept this kind of compromises," he said.

 

April 14, 2024

Fabiani acknowledged that Luis Alberto spoke to the club following the arrival of Croatian Igor Tudor, who joined the club after Maurizio Sarri's resignation, but said that no agreement was reached.

"He wanted to make this untimely statement, he will have his reasons, we will listen to them and draw our own conclusions. Some time ago, with the arrival of Tudor, he told me that at the end of the year he would probably prefer to change shirt and I told him that we had to finish the season in the best possible way. Nobody has ever promised a contract termination," he said.

"The boy's contract was renewed, there was a moment of commitment to the point that he didn't want to go to the team's training camp. Then there was the mediation of president Lotito and we signed the contract under the conditions dictated by the player," he added.

"To be a society you need everyone to be available and show respect. And not to use it for their own personal ends. Lazio is not at the service of Fabiani, quite the opposite. This concept applies to everyone. You can't be at the disposal of others' dissatisfaction," he said.

Luis Alberto joined Lazio in 2016 and since then has been an emblem for the Roman side, making 302 appearances and scoring 51 goals, although his best record is the 76 assists with which his side have won 1 Coppa Italia and 2 Italian Super Cups.