‘I respect David Silva the player, but not the man’: Lazio fume after Real Sociedad hijack move

Former Man City midfielder made a late U-turn on a proposed move to the Serie A side

Lazio sporting director Igli Tare was left incensed after finding out that David Silva would join Real Sociedad on a free transfer.

The Serie A side were confident of signing the former Manchester City midfielder, having offered a three-year deal and arranged a medical in Rome. The club’s striker and talisman, Ciro Immobile, had even commented publicly on the move, saying “we are waiting for [Silva] with open arms. I can’t wait for him to arrive, before Lazio players, we are Lazio fans.”

However, it’s alleged that Silva stopped responding to Lazio, having instead opted to return to Spain, and Tare was only made aware of Silva’s decision upon Sociedad’s official announcement on Monday evening.

“I have great respect for the player, but not for the man,” Tare said in a statement on Lazio’s website.

Sociedad swooped to sign Silva after Real Madrid recalled Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard, who had initially been set to spend another year at the Basque club.

Silva spent a decade at Man City, making over 400 appearances and winning 14 trophies, with the club announcing that a statue will be built outside the Etihad Stadium in his honour.