LAZIO IN CRISIS: MAURIZIO SARRI SLAMS "DOWNGRADED" CLUB AS ROMAGNOLI PREPARES FOR AL-SADD MOVE
Maurizio Sarri fumes as Lazio draw with Lecce, admitting the club is "being downgraded." Romagnoli nears a move to Mancini’s Al-Sadd.
Maurizio Sarri looked pretty drained after Lazio’s goalless draw with Lecce. He didn’t hide his frustration, saying the club is “being downgraded” and isn’t heading in the right direction. “I promised I’d accept any compromise,” he admitted.
Both teams showed up at Stadio Via del Mare desperate for a result, but you could feel the nerves. The match dragged on with little to get excited about. Lecce actually created more chances—Ylber Ramadani came closest, smashing a shot off the underside of the bar—but at least they broke their losing streak with a point.
For Lazio, the only real silver lining? It’s their 11th clean sheet. Not much else for Sarri to celebrate tonight.
He spoke after the match, making it clear he’s sticking around for the fans. “I told the Lazio supporters I’d do anything this season, accept any compromise, because I made them a promise,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia. “They’ve given me so much love, more than I could ever pay back. You just can’t understand what Lazio means from the outside. Once you’re here, it’s unconditional.”
When asked directly if Lazio are being downgraded, Sarri didn’t dodge: “So far, yes. We’ll see where we are at the end, but right now, yes. The club says they want to build a young squad, but it needs to be a good one. I don’t care how old a player is—if he’s good, that’s what matters.”
He tried to sum up the night: “The team did what it could after a tough week. We wasted so many passes in the first half and made things hard for ourselves. We were a bit better after the break, but then we just disappeared in the final third. That’s a problem we just can’t seem to fix.”
Lazio sold Taty Castellanos because he didn’t fit Sarri’s style, but tonight Sarri started Boulaye Dia up front instead of Tijjani Noslin or the new guy, Petar Ratkov. “I thought Dia did fine for the first 10-20 minutes, but then the service just wasn’t there, and that’s not his game. Ratkov looked a bit better compared to when he first arrived, and Taylor, too. Our strikers are struggling to finish, or maybe we’re not giving them the service they need. Honestly, it’s tough to judge.”
It’s been a tense week for the squad. Romagnoli started tonight, even though there are rumours he’s asked for a transfer to join Roberto Mancini’s Al-Sadd. After the final whistle, he went over to the away fans, shook hands with some ultras, and handed over his shirt. He looked emotional.
Sarri didn’t have any real answers on Romagnoli’s future. “I don’t know. I have no idea right now. We’ll know more when things calm down. Right now, it feels like no, but let’s see what happens in the next few days. Maybe I’ll be wrong. Let’s just wait and see.”
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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