Behrami faces Lazio dilemma    
Monday 24 March, 2008

Rome derby hero Valon Behrami is thought to be considering whether to extend his Lazio contract or head for pastures new.

The Swiss international highlighted his ability last week by netting an injury-time winner in the 3-2 triumph over Roma which has raised his profile once more.

Unconfirmed whispers doing the rounds in the Italian capital suggest that the versatile midfielder is being watched by Sevilla, Barcelona and Manchester United.

However, the Biancocelesti are keen to keep hold of their prized asset even though his present contract doesn?t expire until 2010.

It?s understood that the Italian giants want to block the possibility of losing Behrami for a reduced fee under new FIFA legislation and a two-year extension is being mooted.

On the arrival front, radio mercato is suggesting that Lazio chief Claudio Lotito is keen on signing Palermo defender Andrea Barzagli and Chievo attacker Victor Obinna.

All depends on who we get. I don't mind losing players if they're replaced by better ones! 00

If he goes i hope he goes outside italy for a huge pay....so wecan get a super replace with the profit made.

I'm really not that optimistic of replacing behrami. Pandev and Behrami, i would say are our top 2 and we need to try and hold on to talent not sell it and hope we find new talent at a cheaper price. I'd really like to keep the core of the team instead of trying new players and waiting for them to come around and build chemistry with the team.

Trust me....I don't know how much it's up to him to make the right  decision. Lazio offer you 500'000 euros per year, Man U offer 1'500'000 per year (plus playing in CL, etc...). What's the right decision to make? Are we talking about the right decision for him or for us?

There is only 1 way he will stay. Lotito has to spend more money. Lotito's ideas are great on paper...but don't work in real life (just like communism....hahaha). And believe me, if Lotito doesn't pay him more and convince him to stay, there is no way we are going to get someone better. Unless we get another young gamble and hope we hit big! But how many times can that happen. It's already happened with Behrami and Pandev...De silvestri too, but there we were even luckier cause he came from our junior team. There's no way around it. If Lotito wants Lazio to be big, he needs to spend money.


Avanti Lazio.

"Trust me....I don't know how much it's up to him to make the right  decision. Lazio offer you 500'000 euros per year, Man U offer 1'500'000 per year (plus playing in CL, etc...). What's the right decision to make? Are we talking about the right decision for him or for us?"




I meant for us, i was being a little cheeky  . Still i don't think selling Behrami would be a good decision, we have got to keep our good players, sell the crappy ones like Tare, Baronio, Vignblabla, Siviglia, Mauri and use that cash on new players.

Regarding what some of you have mentioned.....I just read that Tare is close to getting his contract renewed!
Also read that we are probably going to purchase Radu completely....(some good news at least).












 

The "riscatto" of Radu is said to be a guarantee for next year and apparently, Carrizo is said to be completely captivating everyone in argentina with his play - two good signs. I haven't heard anything about Tare's contract, sometimes rather than let a pl;ayer go for nothing, you give him a contract so that you can sell him, otherwise he walks for free. boh?

As for Behrami, he's good and I'd like to keep him, but I don't see him getting the kind of money or attention Pandev will get. I wouldn't put Behrami in the same class as Pandev, to be honest. He scored the winner in the derby, and has played very well lately but I don't think there will be a bidding war for him amongst the world's great clubs.

The problem with Pandev and Behrami is that the Fifa "protected period rule" allows a player who signed a contract under the age of 28 to walk away from the contract after three full seasons played (2 years if the contract was signed after the player turned 28). The only compensation the team would get is roughly equal to the amount of the years wages under the broken contract. Thus, a player in this position would have to balance the compensation he would get by moving against the amount he would likely have to pay the club - in Behrami's and Pandev's case , it's not likely to be much. 

Also, I agree that Lotito will have to spend if he wants the team to make a jump in quality, however, we will not be able to compete with the likes of ManU, Madrid  etc. We can encourage Lotito to pull out some money but let's face it, if he offers Pandev a reasonable contract and ManU comes along and says we'll give you more, and then we match them, and they say okay, we'll see your raise and raise you back..... The difference is that they have the power to overspend on a player and we don't. All we can expect from Lotito is that he makes  serious offer, not a fake offer that is meant to fail.