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Unsuccessfully competing in the Italian championship this season, actively looking for reinforcements in January and, according to reports in the Italian media, targeting the defender of Rome and the Italian national team.
World champion M. Oddo has been linked with a move to Milan for some time, but the rumors have not been confirmed and the player remains in the Italian capital, becoming the captain of Lazio and one of the team's leaders. However, new rumors prompted the words of Lazio's head coach Delio Rossi - the strategist admitted that he would let his protégé leave the club if the player expressed such a desire.
"I would like him to stay, as I feel that this club has a bright future, but I believe that forcing the player to stay will only lead to negative results. In my opinion, M. Oddo should finish his career at Lazio because he is a symbol of the team. But if he moves to Milan, we will move forward without him," said D. Rossi.
However, Lazio president Claudio Lotito somewhat tempered the rumors of M. Oddo's transfer: "For us, Oddo is the captain, a world champion, penalty kick specialist, everything. Of course, I don't want to sell him. He has a contract valid until 2008, and I did not include him in the list of players for sale. Every sale will depend on me. No one holds us by the throat; I will make the decision."
M. Oddo, who became a world champion with the Italian national team in 2006, joined Lazio in 2003 after transferring from the Verona club. Playing in the right back position, the set-piece specialist scored 7 goals for the team last season, and has already scored 5 times this season.
Currently, Lazio is in 5th place in the Serie A league with 25 points, while Milan has only 20 points and shares the 12-13th position with the Siena team. The confidently leading Inter Milan has collected 48 points in the championship.
According to reports in Italy, Milan is also actively scouting other players and is soon expected to sign a contract with the young defender from Racing Club in Avellaneda, Leandro Grimi - the Argentine has already arrived in Italy and passed a medical examination, but the club has not officially announced his acquisition yet.
