Former Lazio sporting director Igli Tare suggested he could return to football soon, with Napoli interested in appointing him. The Albanian international spent several years with the Biancocelesti as a director, but left the club this summer amidst rumours he had fallen out with coach Maurizio Sarri over the clubs transfer policy. Speaking with Corriere della Sera, Tare dismissed the reports of his falling out with Sarri and played up links with the Napoli job:
“Did i leave because of Sarri? Absolutely not. A lot has been written about this, but it’s not the case. I spoke to Lotito: after 18 years, the time had come to leave in a civilised manner, without tears. It would have been unforgivable for everyone. Lazio is in my heart. But I needed to look around, study, get to know other realities.”
“Sarri? He’s a fundamentalist, it’s true, someone who wants to do things his own way, it’s his characteristic. Whoever takes him, though, knows that, he can’t change it. I’ve never argued with him, but it’s not easy, he has his own way of conceiving football and work. Lotito is also like him: a president with a very strong character. Sometimes I acted as a lightning rod – it’s part of the job of a good manager – but my marriage with Lazio had come to an end. Sarri had nothing to do with it. After so many years, you feel the need to see other worlds.”
“Napoli? I haven’t heard from anyone, so my answer is no. Then in football anything can happen in an instant: look at what happened in the national team: Mancini leaving and Spalletti arriving. Ours is a fast changing world. There are financial offers, of course, but also the plans of a club. I’m waiting for the right offer.”
