Lazio are reportedly on the verge of completing the acquisition of Valentin Castellanos from New York City FC. According to Il Messaggero, the Biancocelesti will fork out €20 million, including add-ons, to get the deal over the line.
Castellanos has been among the most prolific Major League Soccer forwards in recent years. He won the MLS Golden Boot in 2021 before joining La Liga outfit Girona last season. In 35 league appearances for the Catalan side, the 24-year-old netted 13 times, including a memorable quadruple in a 4-2 win over Real Madrid in April.
Lazio and Castellanos’ representatives agreed upon the final details on Friday night. The Argentine should touch down in Rome on Monday to undergo his medicals before putting pen to paper on a multi-year contract.
His impending arrival won’t change Ciro Immobile’s status at the Stadio Olimpico. Claudio Lotito still sees the veteran striker as an indispensable first-team player. Lazio won’t negotiate the Italian’s departure.
The feeling is mutual, as Immobile doesn’t want to leave the club. He has turned down a lucrative €35m two-year deal in Saudi Arabia to pledge his allegiance to the Biancocelesti.
Immobile has been a talismanic figure for Lazio since joining the club from Sevilla in 2016. But at 33, his game time requires careful management. That’s where Castellanos comes into play. The Argentine should rotate with the former Torino frontman at the tippy top of Maurizio Sarri’s attack.
After Castellanos, Lazio will be looking to reinforce their midfield. They’ve already opened talks with Paris Saint-Germain outcast Leandro Paredes.
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