Dia: ‘Lazio represents a big step in my career’ | OneFootball

Boulaye Dia believes Lazio represent ‘a big step’ forward in his career and is looking forward to ‘healthy competition’ for places with Taty Castellanos.

The striker completed the transfer, on loan with obligation to buy for €12m from Salernitana, who slipped into Serie B last summer.

“It is important for me to be playing at Lazio and a big step forward to be here,” Dia told Lazio Style Channel.

“I am coming off a very difficult season and want to help the team achieve its objectives. There’s a real family atmosphere and Marco Baroni is a calm coach, he doesn’t shout much, but makes himself understood.”

His starting spot is by no means guaranteed, although it helps that he can play a wide role as well as the centre-forward.

“There is healthy competition for places, it helps us and the whole team. Having to always be at your best raises the level for everyone.”

Not an easy path for Dia

The Senegal international’s goals had help Salernitana escape what looked like a certain fate in 2022-23, but when the club refused to sell him to Wolverhampton Wanderers on deadline day, the rapport fell apart.

Dia was frozen out and fined, accused of refusing to play for the team, then jeered by fans even after starting this season with two goals and an assist in the Coppa Italia.

“My story goes back a long way, there were many obstacles from the very start of my career, right from when I was young. They told me I was not big enough and many clubs turned me down for my height.

“It took a long time before I got to sign a contract as a professional football player, I was over 20 years old. Then the chance arrived that allowed me to repay the support of my family, my brothers and my friends.

“It went the way I wanted and now I am happy to enjoy this privilege.”

His first professional club was in France and he moved to Jura Sud in 2017, then going through Stade Reims, Villarreal and then Salernitana in 2022 at €15.4m.