Latest news with #MilinkovicSavic
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Al-Hilal superstar who once dreamed of Real Madrid move now stands against them
The Al-Hilal superstar who once dreamed of Real Madrid move now stands against them As Real Madrid prepare to face Al Hilal in their FIFA Club World Cup opener, all eyes are not just on the Spanish giants, but also on one of their opponents' standout players, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian midfielder, now 30, has become a key figure for Al Hilal, showing consistent brilliance since making the switch from Lazio. Advertisement Since joining the Saudi club, Milinkovic-Savic has already lifted four trophies and scored 31 goals in just 96 appearances. However, things could have turned out very differently for him. When Real Madrid expressed interest According to MARCA, the talented midfielder had once been on Real Madrid's radar as early as 2018. Back then, after a standout season at Lazio, top European clubs such as Juventus, PSG, Manchester United, and Milan all showed interest in him, but no one could make the deal happen. The reason? Lazio president Claudio Lotito refused to budge. He placed a €150 million price tag on Milinkovic-Savic and made it clear he wasn't planning to sell. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic wanted to play for Real Madrid. (Photo by) Advertisement 'I don't feel obliged to sell,' he said on several occasions. And so, Milinkovic-Savic remained in Rome. His Real Madrid dream never came During his eight years with Lazio, the midfielder made over 300 appearances and became one of the most admired talents in Serie A. However, in a 2021 interview, he openly admitted: 'It's always been my dream to play for Real Madrid. I hope to wear that white shirt one day.' But that day never arrived. After Zinedine Zidane left the club, Real Madrid changed direction and brought in younger midfielders like Eduardo Camavinga instead. The dream move faded. In 2023, Milinkovic-Savic surprised many by moving to Al Hilal. The Saudi club paid €40 million for his services and handed him a lucrative deal. Now, in June 2025, destiny brings him face to face with the club he once longed to join. On the pitch in the Club World Cup, he will finally meet Real Madrid, not as one of them, but as their rival.
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Maurizio Sarri closing in on return to management with club he resigned from six years after leaving Chelsea
MAURIZIO SARRI is reportedly close to a stunning managerial return with Lazio. The former Chelsea boss spent nearly three years at the Rome club before resigning in March 2024. 1 Sarri, who won the 2019 Europa League during his sole season with the Blues, was left unhappy with Lazio's transfer business. He saw key men like Joaquin Correa, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Francesco Acerbi depart while being replaced with 'Plan C and Plan D' targets. And a fourth straight league defeat proved to be Sarri's breaking point last year. However, numerous reports in Italy claim the former Napoli and Juventus boss, who won the 2020 Serie A title with the latter, is now set to rejoin Lazio. They are without a manager after seeing Marco Baroni resign just one year into a five-year deal following Lazio's failure to qualify for Europe. It's believed club chiefs immediately reached out to Sarri to see if he was interested in a return. And after being promised that Lazio will hand him a transfer window war chest, the chain-smoking tactician has accepted their proposal. Sarri is now expected to pen a two-year deal worth £5million, with an automatic year-long extension worth a further £2.5m should Lazio qualify for the Champions League. The Italians are now targeting several stars including Fenerbahce playmaker Sebastian Szymanski, Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares and even former midfielder Milinkovic-Savic, now at Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Sarri is also thought to have been promised that key men including centre-backs Alessio Romagnoli and Mario Gila will be kept on despite interest from numerous clubs. Criticising Lazio's transfer policy shortly before his departure last year, Sarri said: 'Everyone else signs who they want. 'It seems to me that before, the club were clear about who was doing the transfers. 'If I ask you for a player who is Plan A, and you make me choose between C and D… It's not like I did the market.'
