Nigeria Players Abroad
Serie A: Tensions rise at Lazio as Maurizio Sarri drops Dele-Bashiru from squad list
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri has sparked internal controversy after opting to exclude Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru from the club’s updated Serie A squad list, despite resistance from senior figures within the club’s management.
The 66-year-old tactician made the decision amid a deepening midfield crisis, with Dele-Bashiru currently sidelined for approximately a month due to a muscle injury.
Fellow midfielder Nicolò Rovella is also out with a groin issue, while both Matteo Guendouzi and Reda Belahyane are set to miss upcoming fixtures through suspension after receiving red cards in the recent Derby della Capitale loss to Roma.
In response, Sarri has chosen to recall Croatian midfielder Toma Bašić, who had been excluded from the initial Serie A squad due to registration constraints.
However, under league rules, a club may only make two squad list changes before January, and reinstating Bašić required the removal of another player.
Sporting director Angelo Fabiani was reportedly in favour of dropping either Manuel Lazzari or Elseid Hysaj instead, but Sarri remained adamant that Dele-Bashiru would be the one to make way.
While the Nigerian international could be reinstated once fit — expected by late October — Serie A regulations stipulate that any future change would again require a corresponding removal of another player.
Complicating matters further, Dele-Bashiru is anticipated to join Nigeria for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in mid-December, a factor that likely influenced Sarri’s decision due to the player’s projected limited availability over the coming months.
The situation highlights a growing rift between the coaching staff and club hierarchy, with questions now swirling around squad management and long-term planning as Lazio navigates a challenging domestic and European campaign.
