Lazio Have Found the Perfect Successors for Romagnoli & Gila – Opinion
Before a ball was kicked in the 2026/27 campaign, a doomsday scenario was envisioned at Lazio. Some pundits and observers felt the squad’s quality was only suitable for a relegation dogfight, and the shocking Coppa Italia defeat to Mantova seemingly confirmed every fan’s concern.
While last season’s squad was anything but splendid, Maurizio Sarri could at least rely on one of the finest centre-back partnerships in the country. In fact, when choosing our Lazio MVP of the 2025/26 season, it was a straight ballot between Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli, with the latter prevailing thanks to consistency and availability.
So, with Gila sold to AC Milan and Romagnoli FINALLY sealing a move to Al-Sadd, what could Lazio aspire to achieve this season?
Well, apparently a lot, based on early evidence, as Gennaro Gattuso’s men currently share the top spot with Inter Milan, having collected 19 points from a possible 21, and part of the credit belongs to the men who replaced the old guardians at the back.
Lazio Revamped Their Backline After Selling Gila & Romagnoli
Danilho Doekhi did fairly well when his services were called upon, while Diogo Leite’s chances will come. But in the meantime, Gattuso has seemingly chosen Josip Sutalo and Oliver Provstgaard as his main defensive duo.
The first is a Croatian international who has made a name for himself on the European scene, having already represented Ajax. On the other hand, the 23-year-old Dane was still relatively unsung despite joining Lazio in January 2025, as he’d been in the shadow of Gila and Romagnoli.
And while it may not have been evident at first, this new partnership is strikingly similar to its predecessor from a stylistic standpoint, even if Gattuso has distanced himself from Sarri’s cautious football and unleashed a drastically more aggressive band.
Oliver Provstgaard Rising to the Occasion
While Provstgaard isn’t the most recognisable name among football fans, Serie A observers would tell you his emergence isn’t necessarily a meteoric rise, but rather a steady evolution. The left-footed Dane had been groomed to succeed Romagnoli, and this is one of those rare instances when everything goes according to plan.
After an 18-month internship, Provstgaard was deemed ready for the main role, and on Sunday he stole the limelight in Turin by making the difference at both ends of the pitch: frustrating the Juventus strikers with his diligent marking and scoring his first goal in Lazio colours with a towering header.
Why Provstgaard is The New Romagnoli
This was the sort of performance Romagnoli would have been proud of. Similar to the experienced Italian centre-back, Provstgaard isn’t the most technical defender with the ball at his feet, but his self-awareness and tactical intelligence help him avoid silly mistakes in possession.
At the age of 23, we cannot expect the Denmark international to marshal the Lazio backline the way Romagnoli used to, but he’s capable of inheriting this role as well at some point.
Sutalo is the Most Natural Gila Replacement
If Provstgaard is Romagnoli’s heir, Sutalo is arguably Gila 2.0.
In this one, the dynamics are drastically different, as we’re not talking about an experienced player passing the baton to an up-and-comer. On the contrary, both defenders are 26, and never shared the same locker room.
And yet, watching Sutalo play, one could almost mistake him for Gila based on style alone.
Like the Spaniard, the Ajax loanee relishes one-on-one duels and is elegant in possession. He even shares Gila’s knack for overplaying the ball and giving it away in dangerous areas. That had been a negative facet in the Milan star’s game that Sarri was keen to eliminate.
But with Gattuso adopting a more proactive approach, Sutalo will be invited to take some risks from time to time, and he’s bound to commit some occasional howlers (so brace yourselves, Lazio fans!).
Gattuso Can Build His Lazio on a Solid Backline
Seven rounds into the Serie A campaign, Christos Mandas has already registered four clean sheets. The Greek custodian certainly deserves a large chunk of the credit, as he’s been remarkable between the posts, and the same goes for Reda Belahyane, who has been an absolute shield in front of the backline.
Nevertheless, Lazio’s euphoric start to the campaign wouldn’t have been plausible if it weren’t for the men who valiantly filled the gaps left by the departing defensive stalwarts. So kudos to Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani, who found the right profiles, not only to replace the departees in terms of playing style, but also in terms of quality.
