Lazio confirm Stefan de Vrij will leave for free in summer

Lazio have withdrawn their contract offer to defender Stefan de Vrij and confirmed he will be leaving the club in the summer.

Inter Milan have been named as strong suitors to sign the 26-year-old, while Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been credited with an interest in the £35million-rated Dutchman.

Lazio’s sporting director Igli Tare has revealed the Serie A club have withdrawn their offer to De Vrij after he stalled over signing a contract extension and he will now be available on a free transfer on July 1.

“We’ll explain our reasons later,” Tare said to Mediaset. “There’s a limit and that’s been breached, and it’s now become a question of correctness.

“He’s always been an exceptional professional and he’s given a lot to Lazio, and Lazio have given a lot to him, but at the end of the season, our paths will divide. We are withdrawing our offer to him.

“There’s nothing evil – we thank Stefan for what he has given to us, but for now, we are not going to explain the reasons behind this separation.

“We need to look ahead. We’ve grown a lot and we will continue to grow. The only certainty is that there will never be a lack of footballers and we’ve got to be good at finding them.”

Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi said he will be sorry to see De Vrij depart.

“I’m sorry because he’s a great player,” Inzaghi told Mediaset. “He’s made a different choice and we’ve taken note, but the important thing is he continues to give 100 percent until the end of the season.

“I know that the club made him a significant offer and he was tempted, but he’s a champion and I know that he will behave as such until the end of the season.”

 

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