Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has offered his first remarks about Super Eagles star Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, admitting he is unsure about how best to use the Nigerian midfielder in his system, Soccernet.ng reports.
Sarri, who returned to the Lazio dugout on 2 June after a 15-month break, replaced Marco Baroni following the club’s underwhelming seventh-place finish in Serie A.
One of his key tasks will be unlocking the potential of players like Dele-Bashiru, whose debut season in Italy was as mixed as Lazio’s league form.
Signed initially on loan from Turkish side Hatayspor, Lazio secured Dele-Bashiru permanently for a combined fee of €5.43 million after a promising start.
The 24-year-old, known for his versatility and technical astuteness, made 29 appearances across all competitions, tallying five goals and three assists.
However, inconsistency in game time and positional uncertainty plagued his first campaign. Baroni utilised him in various roles — central midfield, attacking midfield, and even on the left wing — limiting his rhythm and impact. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, Dele-Bashiru ended the season with just 943 minutes of league action, starting only 12 matches.
Now, with Sarri back at the helm, the big question is: where will he fit in?
What Maurizio Sarri said about Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
Speaking to LaLazioSiamoNoi as per SosFanta, Sarri said: “I don’t know what Dele-Bashiru is like in dribbling, let’s see. I saw a player playing as an attacking midfielder who everyone tells me isn’t an attacking midfielder.
“Let’s try to bring him back to midfield and see what evolution he can have. I’ve heard good things about him in the non-Lazio jobs. And I’m not talking about the Lazio environment, but about sports directors from other clubs. He probably has some qualities, obviously.”
That uncertainty may fuel speculation about Dele-Bashiru’s future in Rome. Premier League sides reportedly monitored the Nigerian during the January window, and a return to England remains a possibility should Sarri choose to offload him this summer.
A Manchester City academy graduate, Dele-Bashiru has seven international caps and two goals for Nigeria and is currently valued at €8 million on Transfermarkt.
For now, his future at Lazio hangs in the balance — much like the manager’s current plans for him.