Santiago Gimenez punished Lazio again on Wednesday, scoring his first two Champions League goals. He had hit the net three times in two games against the Biancocelesti in the second-tier continental competition last year, contributing to their demise in the group stage.
Per Il Messaggero (via OneFootball), owner Claudio Lotito was heard talking about the striker aloud on the phone.
“Why didn’t we sign him last summer?”
Lazio did track Gimenez, but he would have been more expensive than Taty Castellanos, whom they ultimately acquired to deputize Ciro Immobile. They spent €15M to purchase the Argentine from New York City FC, while the Feyenoord star would have cost nearly double that sum.
According to Calciomercato, the Dutch club was reluctant to even open talks regarding his departure as they wanted to keep him for another season, and they indeed managed. He netted 28 goals in 50 appearances in 2022/2023.
The Mexican center-forward will predictably be in high demand next summer. His price tag will keep growing, though. It might take €40/50M to acquire him. The Biancocelesti, Inter, Milan, and Napoli might have to bolster their frontlines in 2024, but he risks being too expensive. Real Madrid and the top London-based clubs are leading the race.
Lazio will meet Feyenoord and Gimenez again in a fortnight. They’ll need to grab points at the Stadio Olimpico having fallen to third place in the Champions League Group E following the recent results.
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |