Zarate set for Lazio switch
30 Jun 2008 - 09:24:26
Italian club Lazio are close to sealing the signing of former Birmingham City loanee Mauro Zarate.
The 21-year-old Argentinian impressed while at St Andrew's last season, with a number of Premier League clubs thought to be interested in bringing Zarate back to England.
However, Lazio are poised to win the race for Zarate's signature according to their president, Caludio Lotitio.
He told the Corriere dello Sport: "We won't announce anything until we have deposited his contract with the authorities.
"We are used to announcing a new signing only after the contract has been completed and that hasn't happened yet. But, save any complications, we are on the right path to signing the player.
"The terms of the agreement foresee a valuation of the player which will rise to around 25million euros, because Zarate will turn out better than Lionel Messi.
"Certainly it's a significant investment, but if we're closing the deal it means that we believe in it.
"He is a player who has barely turned 21 and he could represent the future of Lazio."