Here's the thing with current Lazio players from what I read numerous times in the past few years.  When Lazio go after players/staff/admin, whatever other positions in the S.S. Lazio organization they make sure that these are people who have loyalty and are dedicated to the S.S. Lazio organization. I think this is why our team has so much passion compared to even the Juve's, Inter's of the world. If you notice all of our players although not the most talented, play with a huge heart. Look at Mutarelli, Mudingayi, Cribari (broken face and all). I think that the interview and scouitng process have this specific element that scouts look for.  With that being said, I think Lottio has to show that this team wants to be one of the giants at least for the near future. I think securing Rocchi was a big step. He has to show an investment for the future and signing guys like Bianchi will encourage players like Pandev to stay. On the other hand if Lotitio continues on the same path as this past summer, these young stars will go. I would too. Who wants to waste their careers where there's no hope of winning anything? Certainly Pandev and Behrami ain't winning anything with Macedonia and Switzerland. So Lotito has got to show that he's serious about the future of this club and invest.

Daniele....I agree on them reaching out to hire people/staff/players that are Lazio fans, but it's not just that. I can assure you that palying and living in Rome, with the way Lazio fans are, the passion Lazio fans and people from Rome have, it makes a big difference on the way the players play. Go play for juve in Torino....the most boring city in the world. See if you can play with as much passion.

Lazio fans and romans in general transmit that energy to the players...this is why players play on Lazio (or on the other roman team) and love it. Playing in Rome is one thing....playing in Genoa, Cagliari, Torino, Siena, etc, etc...is another (no offense).

imperatorlativm....I agree with part of what you say, but a lot of the times (for the reasons I wrote above) players want to play for Lazio and want to stay here, but not if the conditions are far from adequate. If Lazio pays me 400'000 and ManU offer me 1'500'000 (plus CL, international spotlight, etc)....I'll go to ManU and I don't blame the players for doing that. But if Lotito talks to the players, makes an effort and offers 1'000'000 to players like Pandev, etc...shows interest in building a strong team, etc, etc...I think they would stay. It rains everyday in Manchester...Dabo came back in a hurry without even locking his front door...if the money is huge, I might go, but if it was up to me and the money was similar, I'd choose to play in Rome. Just my opinion.

Lolitto's comment on signings
“As for signings, lots of players worldwide aspire to play for this club. Players who have our mentality, like Arsenal’s, that don’t demand these vast English or Spanish wages"

And look what's happening to Arsenal..

We can do absolutely nothing!!!!!! FIFA regulations allow players of a certain age (I think under 26 at time of signing)to leave a team once they've played at least three years of the contract. The team that loses the player gets a sum roughly equivalent to the remaining contract value. It's a joke! FIFA always favours the rich clubs who laugh at such paltry penalties. Behrami has been stalling on contract talks in order to make himself more attractive to a prospective club - if he signs a new deal with Lazio he loses the power to apply to this regulation and leave on a lower fee.

West Hm is rumoured to be offering 11 million for Behrami. It seems teams would rather not employ article 17 because it does leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Hopefully, we get some $ for him we can use for other signings. Also, I've heard that Lotito will never sign him out of spite for making recourse to the rule. I can't say i'm aware of all the details involved, but I am rather mildly dissappointed in Behrami.     

I guess it was a rumour....

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Ham off the menu for Behrami     
Monday 7 July, 2008
Valon Behrami’s representative has laughed off recent reports linking the Lazio defender with a move to West Ham.

The Swiss international has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to stay at the Stadio Olimpico next season and has even threatened using FIFA Article 17 to free himself from his contract.

Lazio President Claudio Lotito briefly considered court action to stop Behrami leaving but now seems ready to see him go for the right price, but his agent insists that his destination won’t be East London.

“The stories linking Valon with West Ham are pure invention,” Alessandro Beltrami told Setantasports.com.

“The player wants to play in the Bundesliga, so therefore England isn’t amongst his priorities.

“The player will return from holiday this week and then we will decide his future.

“We have received offers from Germany, Spain and England but there are no meetings scheduled.”