The former sporting director of Lazio, Igli Tare, has confirmed that he rejected a huge bid from AC Milan for midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
After playing for Brescia and Bologna in Serie A, Tare joined Lazio and when his contract expired at the end of the 2007–08 season he accepted a non-playing role at the club, becoming team manager.
In early 2009 he completed a course in order to receive his qualification to be sporting director, a post he held at Lazio until 5 June 2023 before deciding to leave the club.
In the summer of 2018 the Rossoneri were looking to bolster the midfield after a season in which the squad disappointed after so much investment.
Milan TV’s Mauro Suma actually revealed that the club bid €120m for Milinkovic-Savic which was rejected, then Claudio Lotito claimed for that figure to actually be €140m.
Tare spoke to TV Play about some of his more memorable experiences with the Aquile, and he confirmed the story about Milinkovic-Savic, with his comments relayed by Calciomercato.com.
“Many untrue things have been said about Milinkovic-Savic, from his farewell on a free transfer to the fact that he didn’t want to stay,” he said.
“The only true thing is that Lotito rejected a very important offer, worth over 100 million euros, from Milan and Manchester United.
“I don’t want to say too much about the lack of sale, even if there was a question of budgets, but Lotito’s choices were to maintain a strong team and respect the promises made to the coach.
“Let’s not forget that in the year of Covid, Lazio were about to win the Scudetto.”
