In its golden age between the 1980s and 1990s, the Serie A was so competitive that many players with an international pedigree would struggle to find their edge in a mid-table top-flight side.
That was the case, among many others, with Romania international Marius Lacatus, who spent a single season at Fiorentina in the 1990/91 campaign. A former European Cup and European Super Cup winner with Steaua Bucuresti, Lacatus collected only 21 caps for the Viola, scoring three goals.
After bagging a brace in a 3-1 victory against Atalanta, Lacatus netted his last Italian goal on November 18, 1990, as he helped Fiorentina tie 1-1 to Cagliari.
Marius Lacatus was acquired by the Viola in the summer of 1990 to somehow make up for the abrupt departure of Roberto Baggio. He was incautiously billed as “Baggio’s heir” even though he was more a winger than a center forward but, after an encouraging start, he quickly fell behind in coach Sebastiao Lazaroni’s pecking order.
The only season he spent at Fiorentina ended up being the worst in Lacatus’ remarkable career which, on top of the aforementioned European silverware, saw him win ten Romanian titles and feature in two World Cups with Romania.
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