Former Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso is is close to taking over Lazio, sources have said, with the Rome club's current coach Maurizio Sarri reportedly set to join Atalanta.
    The former AC Milan and Italy midfielder, a part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning team, is set for a tough task if the deal is confirmed.
    The majority of Lazio's fans have been boycotting their team's matches in recent months in protest at club's owner, Chairman Claudio Lotito, who is accused of failing to make the necessary investments to build a team capable of challenging for trophies.
    Gattuso's track record as a coach is not impressive and his last job ended with Italy failing to get though the playoffs to qualify for this summer's World Cup, meaning the Azzurri will miss out on the tournament for the third consecutive time.
    So reports that Lazio have chosen him as the new boss have been greeted with dismay by fans already deeply dissatisfied.
    Sarri is reported set to leave amid tension between him and Lotito.
    He has said he club did not listen to him this season and described the fans' protests against Lotito as a "act of love".
    He has had to work in difficult situation.
    Lazio were unable to do any transfer dealings in the 2025 closed season because of financial issues and, when they were given the all-clear to return to the market in the January transfer window, instead of strengthening the squad, they ended up selling two of their best players - Argentine forward Taty Castellanos to West Ham United and France midfielder Matteo Guendouzi to Fenerbahce.
    Despite this, Sarri managed to lead them to the Italian Cup final, in which they were easily beaten by Serie A champions Inter.
    A ninth-placed finish in Serie A means they will not be playing European football next season.

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