‘Furious’ Pellegrini Refuses to Leave Lazio After Squad Omission

On Wednesday, Lazio raised eyebrows by dropping Luca Pellegrini from their Serie A squad list, even though two spots were left vacant.

The Background

The 27-year-old is a lifelong Lazio supporter who joined the club in January 2023, making an initial move from Juventus that became permanent in 2025. Over the past few years, the Roman has been in and out of the starting lineup, with Nuno Tavares generally preferred on the left flank.

Luca Pellegrini is Surplus to Requirements

With Alfonso Pedraza also joining Gennaro Gattuso’s squad, Pellegrini became the club’s third-choice left-back and was thus deemed redundant, especially in the absence of European football.

After the transfer market’s closure, Lazio had to lock down their Serie A squad list, and they opted to keep Pellegrini out, alongside Patric, who continues to struggle with a long-term injury, as well as Alessio Romagnoli, who is finalising his transfer to Al-Sadd.

Gattuso & Lazio Want Pellegrini Out

According to Il Messaggero (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), the management decided to exclude Pellegrini to urge him to leave the club in the coming days. Although the transfer market has closed in Italy and the other top European nations, it remains open in some countries, particularly Turkiye, where the full-back reportedly has suitors.

The Roman newspaper reveals that the player has been told to find a new club since July, with Gennaro Gattuso agreeing that he has no place in his plans. It should be noted that Pellegrini is running on an expiring contract, so the management would also prefer to cash in on him rather than lose him for free a year later.

Stubborn Pellegrini Determined to Stay at Lazio

While Lazio are hoping to see the player’s back this summer, the source describes Pellegrini as ‘furious’ following his exclusion and unwilling to entertain any offers. Therefore, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.