Lazio and Al-Duhail have finalized the agreement for wantaway playmaker Luis Alberto to continue his career in Qatar. The Middle East outfit took to social media to announce the Spaniard’s arrival, posting a video of the illustrious midfielder wearing the club’s scarf on X.
Alberto signed a contract extension with Lazio last summer. But despite pledging his future to the Stadio Olimpico until 2027, something had gone wrong for the ex-Liverpool outcast. He fell out of favor with the club hierarchy and fans toward the final stretch of his career in Rome.
There wasn’t a way back. Lazio had sought a proper proposal to offload their unsettled ace, and Al-Duhail obliged. The Qatari side agreed to pay approximately €10 million to acquire Alberto’s services. But a portion of the transfer fee will go to Liverpool.
Lazio included a sell-on clause in their deal to sign Alberto in 2016, offering the Reds 12% of the future sale. It means the Premier League heavyweights will get around €1.2m from his imminent switch to Al-Duhail.
Alberto made 307 appearances for Lazio during his eight-year stint in Italy. He netted 52 goals and helped the Biancocelesti win the Supercoppa Italiana twice and conquer the Coppa Italia once. Despite his fall from grace in 2024, he leaves the club as an icon.
His departure marks the beginning of a new era at Lazio, with Marco Baroni set to replace Igor Tudor in the dugout. The ex-Hellas Verona manager will have a full plate from day one as the capital-based giants face several more high-profile exits.
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