Igli served as Lazio’s sporting director from 2008 onward, pulling off major signings such as Immobile, Milinkovic-Savic, and Luis Alberto. The current roster includes many players signed by the executive, who is now with the Rossoneri

So many years together. Igli Tare, both on the field and behind the desk, was with Lazio from 2005 to 2023. Saturday will mark the first face-off between the former teammates. His Milan will host what can still, in part, be considered his Lazio. Because there are still many players on the Biancocelesti roster whom Tare brought to Rome.

For years, Lazio maintained a high level of performance, even winning several titles, driven by some of Tare’s shrewd transfer moves. He became sporting director in 2008, replacing Sabatini. From Hernanes to Klose, from Candreva to Parolo, and on to the more recent signings of Leiva and Correa, the Albanian sporting director has consistently sniffed out real bargains over the years. The best, in terms of performance, however, are probably Immobile (the club’s all-time leading scorer), Milinkovic (the top foreign scorer), and Luis Alberto.

today’s players—  Even today, however, Sarri relies on many players brought in by Tare. One stands out above all others: Gila. The sporting director has always placed great faith in the Spanish defender, even when he was seeing little playing time at Roma. He was Tare’s last great gift to the Biancocelesti. Before playing regularly for Roma, Gila had to wait 18 months, earning the coach’s trust only when—amid injuries and suspensions—there were no other alternatives. Tare, however, stood by him and continued to believe in him. It’s no coincidence that the two still share a very close relationship. Tare’s influence is also evident in the case of Cataldi, whose time with the Biancocelesti has been marked by ups and downs: the Lazio midfielder had been written off, but it was the sporting director who wanted to give him another chance. He was also the one who led the negotiations for Romagnoli and Provedel.
The veterans—  Then there are players like Marusic and Lazzari, who have been in Rome since 2017 and 2019, respectively. The Montenegrin, a starter in 10 of the 12 league matchdays, has always been held in high regard by the coaches: Sarri now uses him on both the right and left sides. Inzaghi had him play as a fifth defender or as part of a three-man backline, while Tudor used him as a wide forward. Another player the sporting director has always relied on is Basic: long on the fringes of the team, he has been reintegrated into Sarri’s league roster in recent months due to numerous injuries and is often among the best on the field. And among Lazio’s midfielders, he is the only one who, given his playing style, systematically tries to penetrate the opponent’s penalty area. Tare knows him well, just as he knows most of the Lazio roster. The team still draws in part on the insights of its former sporting director.