Lazio to Premier League: five who crossed from Rome to England

Lazio have long been a launchpad for elite talent, and several former players have tried their luck in the Premier League.

According to The Laziali, five moves from Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to England produced contrasting outcomes.

Juan Sebastian Veron joined Manchester United in 2001 after winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 1999, and Serie A in 2000. The £28.1 million signing struggled to settle, spending two seasons before moving to Chelsea in 2003. His standout years were with Lazio.

Aleksandar Kolarov swapped Lazio for Manchester City in 2010, noted for a powerful left foot, dangerous crosses and free-kick threat. He surpassed 200 appearances in all competitions and collected two Premier League titles as the club challenged for major honours.

Felipe Anderson arrived at West Ham in 2018 for a club-record fee after five seasons in Rome. The Brazilian scored 10 Premier League goals in 2018/19 and impressed early on, though he left after two campaigns.

Pierluigi Casiraghi joined Chelsea in 1998 but a serious knee injury against West Ham that November effectively ended his career. He managed only 10 Premier League appearances, his spell defined by misfortune rather than output.

Wesley Hoedt signed for Southampton in 2017 following more than 60 outings for Lazio. His first season brought 13 Premier League games, then loans followed before a permanent exit, capping an underwhelming stay.

From silverware and milestones to setbacks and early farewells, the Lazio to Premier League pathway has produced sharply different stories.

Source: The Laziali

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”