The French international of Olympique de Marseille Matteo Guendouzi has been loaned for one season with the option to buy at Lazio Rome, the French club announced on Thursday. “Our French international midfielder is on loan to Lazio Rome for a season with an option to buy,” said OM in a press release. According to the Italian press, the two clubs have agreed on a loan with a mandatory purchase option for a total amount of 13 million euros, to which will be added five million euros in bonuses.
Guendouzi, 24, will discover his fourth championship in the jersey of the Italian vice-champions after L1 (Lorient, OM), Germany (Hertha Berlin, 2020-21) and England (Arsenal, 2018-20 ). Arrived at OM in 2021, the international (7 caps, one goal) quickly became essential during the 2021-22 season under the direction of Jorge Sampaoli. But the one who was one of the spokespersons for the Marseille locker room lost playing time and his starting place last season under the leadership of Igor Tudor. Marcelino, who succeeded the Croatian on the bench, did not count on him more. Guendouzi, who was under contract until 2025 with OM, arrived in Rome on Wednesday afternoon to finalize his transfer.
Lazio, runners-up to Naples last season, qualified for the Champions League (they will face Atlético Madrid, Feyenoord and Glasgow Celtic in the group stage). The team coached by Maurizio Sarri, which lost its first two matches of the 2023-24 Italian Championship and is in 18th place, travels to Naples on Saturday (8:45 p.m.) as part of the 3rd day of the Italian Championship .
