Behind Closed Doors At Formello: Sarri Stands Firm In Meeting With Lotito And Fabiani

A tense meeting reportedly took place at Formello on Friday, shortly after the press conference that introduced Lazio’s new signings, Kenneth Taylor and Petar Ratkov. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the club’s training ground has recently felt like a pressure cooker, with constant noise around the team and growing friction between the technical staff and the board.

The report claims Lazio president Claudio Lotito, sporting director Angelo Fabiani, and coach Maurizio Sarri sat down to stop the situation from escalating. The objective was simple: prevent a messy internal climate from affecting results at a crucial stage of the season.

What was supposed to be a calming discussion, however, quickly turned into a tough exchange, with accusations and replies flying across the table.

Lazio’s leadership allegedly tried to reduce the tension by insisting that external narratives are creating division, almost as if parts of the media are pushing a story designed to set the coach against the club.

Sarri, though, reportedly refused to play along. The coach is said to have repeated the same concerns he has held for months, mainly about how the squad is being built and how transfer decisions are made. In short, Sarri did not want to “pretend everything is fine” just for appearances.

One major point of disagreement remains Petar Ratkov. Sarri’s blunt comment after Lazio vs Fiorentina, “I don’t know Ratkov,” still carries weight inside the club.

The same report suggests the signing may have followed a path that did not fully match Sarri’s tactical needs. Sarri’s assistant, Marco Ianni, allegedly watched the player and liked some of his qualities, but still felt the striker did not perfectly fit what Sarri wants from that role. If true, it highlights a deeper issue: Lazio’s management and coaching staff may be working with different priorities, even when discussing the same player.

Despite the heavy atmosphere, the report does not indicate any imminent split. Sarri is under contract for three years and is said to be ready to continue, at least through the end of the season, also because of his strong connection with the supporters.

Still, the real crossroads appears to be June 2026. If serious offers arrive, Sarri could evaluate his options. For now, the message from Formello is a fragile truce: Lazio want to move forward together, but the balance remains delicate, and one wrong step could reopen the conflict.