Lazio Agree €13million Transfer Deal For Serbian Striker
Lazio shock the market: Petar Ratkov deal agreed with Salzburg. €13m, big goals, massive upside. Serie A gets a new Serbian weapon.
Andrea Locorotondo
Updated on 08 January 2026
Petar Ratkov to Lazio: Deal Closed With Salzburg
Neither Pinamonti nor Raspadori. Lazio has found its new striker. Not just an idea or one of the thousand names being thrown around, but Salzburg reached an agreement for Petar Ratkov, who was born in 2003.
The club completed the deal last night for a fixed fee of €13million. The parties should exchange the documents in the next few hours, which should allow the 193cm Serbian giant to reach his new destination.
It’s a bit of a surprise move considering that a bunch of top European clubs showed interest in him.But Lazio has beaten the competition to the punch.
Why Lazio Chose Petar Ratkov as Their New Striker
Petar Ratkov is a striker who’s worth his salt. He’s got size, technique, the instinct of a number 9 and the sensitivity of a number 10. He’s not just another centre forward who’s passed through Salzburg.
Born in Belgrade on 18 August 2003, Ratkov is 193 cm tall and has developed a modern profile over the years. He has a presence in the box, works with his back to goal, is mobile, has association and second striker reading skills.
He has already bagged 12 goals this season, which has convinced Lazio to trust him to open a new offensive phase.
From Sixth Division to Serie A: Ratkov’s Rapid Rise
But his journey is far from straightforward. He started his career in the amateur ranks at DIF Belgrade, then he moved to TSC Backa Topola.
He scored goals in the youth teams, the coaches promoted him to the first team, and he just kept on growing. That’s what caught the attention of the big clubs and led him to finish his Serbian career with a total of 17 goals.
Red Bull Salzburg took a chance on him in the summer of 2023, sensing his potential.
Ratkov was on fire in Austria, scoring 22 goals and 15 assists in just 99 games. He even made it into the record books: on 17 February 2024, he scored the fastest goal in the history of the Austrian league.
Now he’s off to Serie A and Lazio, giving manager Sarri a young centre forward who’s already used to making his mark.
Andrea Locorotondo
Andrea Locorotondo is an Italian sports journalist. He has been living in the UK since 2015 and he is accredited by the SJA and AIPS. In addition to his role as contributor for FootItalia, he has demonstrated his ability to effectively cover a range of positions in sports journalism. Former Sportitalia TV journalist back in 2014, he is currently employed as a data journalist for Opta and Sportsdata. He is the team leader of Italian commentators at GBVision. He collaborates with EA Sports and frequently appears as a guest on Italian radio and television shows, including RDS Serie A TV and La Fiera del Calcio, where he shares his insights as a Premier League expert.
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