Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani has delivered a scathing assessment of Matteo Guendouzi following the midfielder’s departure, offering rare insight into the behind-the-scenes tensions at the Serie A club.
Speaking at a press conference at Formello, Fabiani did not mince words, highlighting a mix of admiration for Guendouzi’s talent and frustration with his behaviour.
“Guendouzi wasn’t replaced? That’s a matter of opinion. The pitch will judge,” Fabiani said, according to LaLazioSiamoNoi.
“I had a great relationship with Guendouzi, but the day after he left he became a disciple of Maria Goretti. Inside Lazio, in reality, he’s a pain in the ass, he gets himself sent off, he does whatever he wants. That’s not objectivity.”
The remarks suggest that while Guendouzi’s ability on the ball was never in doubt, his disciplinary record and tendency to act independently created friction within the squad and the club hierarchy.
Fabiani also made it clear that Guendouzi’s exit was entirely the player’s decision. “Guendouzi left because he decided it and wanted it. I don’t hold anyone back, just like with Alessio Romagnoli,” he added, emphasizing that Lazio did not stand in the midfielder’s way.
The blunt statements underline a breakdown in relations, hinting that the club viewed the separation as both inevitable and necessary.
The French midfielder of Moroccan descent, who had previously played for Arsenal and Marseille, leaves Lazio having shown flashes of brilliance but also sparking debate over his temperament.
His departure opens space in the midfield, allowing the club to pursue players who better align with the standards of discipline and team cohesion emphasized by Fabiani and the Lazio management.
