Serie A New Boys Set to Beat Watford for Lazio Wingback | OneFootball

Watford and Udinese have reportedly missed out on Lazio starlet Romano Floriani Mussolini who is now expected to join Cremonese.

The Background

The 22-year-old is a youth product of the Italian capital club who spent the previous campaign on loan at Juve Stabia. The Italian managed to impress in Serie B, convincing the Campania-based club to exercise their option to sign him, but Lazio retaliated by activating their buy-back option.

Lazio Set to Trim the Squad

This summer, the Aquile cannot sign any new players due to the transfer ban imposed by COVISOC due to their unbalanced accounts, but the management is expected to sell a host of players in order to downsize the squad from 30 to 20 first-team players, as Maurizio Sarri’s men will only be playing once per week next season in the absence of European football.

(Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

As stated by Lazio president Claudio Lotito and sporting director Angelo Fabiani, the club is aiming to keep the core of the squad intact, and will instead sell those who are deemed surplus to requirements, and one of them is the returning Mussolini, who won’t be able to find space at Sarri’s court in the presence of more experienced profiles on the right flank.

Watford & Udinese Miss Out on Romano Floriani Mussolini?

In recent days, it has been reported that Watford and Udinese (both owned by the Puzzo family) have enquired about the Roman player. According to Il Messaggero Veneto (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), the Zebrette already tried to sign Mussolini for €4 million when Juve Stabia bought him, but were dealt a blow when Lazio exercised their counter-option.

Cremonese Closing in on Mussolini Deal

As the newspaper explains, Udinese have already turned their focus on other profiles, while Mussolini is now very close to joining Cremonese who have recently earned a promotion to Italy’s top flight after winning the Serie B playoffs. Le Tigri will reportedly acquire the wingback’s services on loan with an option to buy, while it remains to be seen if Lazio will retain a buy-back clause.