Lazio Plan Raspadori Hijack Using Castellanos Cash As Roma Talks Stall
Lazio could really hurt their arch-rivals with this move...
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 02 January 2026
Lazio are reportedly plotting a shock swoop for Giacomo Raspadori from under the noses of Roma thanks to the money from the Taty Castellanos sale.
Taty Castellanos cash could allow Lazio to match Roma package for Giacomo Raspadori
Lazio will soon lose Castellanos to English Premier League club West Ham United for around €29m.
As a result, the Biancocelesti will need to source a replacement, and a multitude of names have been doing the rounds.
In December, Lazio targeted Andrea Pinamonti from Sassuolo, and he is still on their radar.
Mikal Oyarzabal, Lorenzo Insigne and Cucho Hernandez are also on Maurizio Sarri’s shortlist.
And while much of the Raspadori speculation has involved Roma, Lazio will soon have an ace up their sleeve – the Castellanos money.
With the Raspadori-Roma deal not yet closed, Lazio are said to be attempting a surprise overtake in the race for the Atletico Madrid man.
Corriere dello Sport have reported that president Claudio Lotito believes there is an opening while Roma await a response.
The Castellanos cash would allow Lazio to move quickly and, potentially, match the kind of package Roma have been negotiating with Atletico.
Lazio could also lean on Sarri’s reputation for improving forwards, pointing to his work converting Dries Mertens into a prolific striker.
Why Raspadori is such an attainable target for Lazio
Although Raspadori reportedly likes Roma, it doesn’t look as though they are the only destination he wants.
In addition, recent reports have suggested that Roma and Atletico are still apart in valuation.
Roma’s proposal is a €2m loan with an option to buy worth €17m, but Atletico want to recoup the €22m they spent on him.
Atletico would also prefer a mandatory purchase option and a higher price, which is a stumbling block for Roma.
🚨 Clamoroso, la #Lazio sta cercando di soffiare Raspadori alla #Roma https://t.co/7WAXRaSfGn
— Corriere dello Sport (@CorSport) January 2, 2026
This is because the Giallorossi’s budget will depending on how they fare in Serie A and whether they get into Europe.
As for the player himself, he is reportedly willing to leave Atletico despite only joining last year.
Raspadori is not happy with the relative lack of game time on offer at the Wanda Metropolitano.
He wants first-team minutes, especially considering 2026 is a World Cup year and Italy still have a chance of getting there.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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