Sarri Plans To Retain Only Dia And Provstgaard As Other Baroni Era Signings Near Lazio Exit

Maurizio Sarri, now back in charge at Formello, has reportedly identified only two players from Marco Baroni’s recruitment era that he truly values and wishes to retain, while being open to parting ways with the rest.

The 66 year old tactician stepped down from his first spell with Lazio in March 2024, frustrated by the club’s direction at the time. His departure led to a short transitional period under Igor Tudor, followed by Marco Baroni, who launched an aggressive rebuild in the summer of 2024. The reshuffle saw Lazio bid farewell to several long serving pillars including Ciro Immobile, Luis Alberto, and Felipe Anderson, marking the end of an era for the Biancoceleste. The overhaul then continued into January 2025, reshaping the squad’s identity.

Under Baroni’s one year tenure, Lazio brought in nine new first team signings, although only seven remain. Loum Tchaouna moved to Burnley in the summer, while Arijon Ibrahimovic returned to Bayern Munich after a brief and uneventful loan. Yet, according to Il Messaggero, Sarri’s approval extended to just two of those remaining players.

The veteran coach reportedly expressed satisfaction with Boulaye Dia and Oliver Provstgaard, viewing both as valuable long term assets. Dia, the dynamic Senegalese forward, offers flexibility in attack, capable of partnering or alternating with Taty Castellanos. Meanwhile, Provstgaard, the promising Danish defender, is seen as a natural heir to Alessio Romagnoli, a cornerstone for the club’s defensive future.

Conversely, Sarri appears less convinced by the rest. The Italian manager is said to be open to selling Nuno Tavares, Tijjani Noslin, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Samuel Gigot, and Reda Belahyane. Should Lazio’s transfer ban be lifted in time for the winter market, it would not be surprising to see one or more of these players leave, freeing up funds for Sarri to tailor the squad more closely to his vision, one that blends discipline, structure, and technical intelligence across every position