Former Liverpool player Luis Alberto has asked for his contract with Lazio to be terminated so he can seek a new club. The 31-year-old’s deal runs through to 2027.
Alberto’s stint at Anfield, which lasted three years after a $7m (£6m/€7m) transfer from Sevilla, was far from successful. The Spaniard only made 12 appearances for Liverpool.
Only two of those were starts, and after a disappointing debut season, he was loaned out to Málaga. Following a year on the Costa Del Sol, Alberto was loaned out again, this time to Deportivo La Coruña.
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Despite being a regular starter for the La Liga team, Liverpool decided to cut their losses in 2016 and sold him to Lazio for around $5m (£4m/€5m). While his time at Liverpool was a flop, Alberto managed to revive his career in Serie A.
He has spent the last eight years at the Stadio Olimpico, making over 300 appearances and winning the Coppa Italia. He is a certified legend in Rome. But despite signing a new contract in October, Alberto is now seeking a way out.
Lazio’s season has been challenging. It is currently sitting seventh in the Serie A table, far from Champions League qualification. A loss to Roma in the Derby della Capitale was another low point in the campaign.
After Friday’s victory over Salernitana, Alberto told DAZN: “The last few weeks have been difficult for me. I don’t know what the project is going to be, but I can say that I will certainly not be part of the project for next season.
“I already asked the club to terminate my contract, I do not want to take one more Euro from Lazio. I think it is only right now to step aside. This club has given me so much, but the time has come to step aside and leave it to others.”
Alberto later issued a statement on Instagram to confirm his decision. It remains to be seen how quickly Lazio may honor his request, given he still has another three years to run on his contract.
“I am grateful for the displays of affection, my relationship with the Lazio fans is excellent and it is only a matter of pride,” Alberto wrote alongside a series of images from the win over Salernitana.
“I thank you for everything that they have done in my years at the club, especially to the boys from the Curva Nord and the Tribuna Tevere [stands in the Stadio Olympico] who have always supported me.
“I will always have you in my heart. I will continue to work hard and give my all on the pitch until the last minute of the last match as I always have.”
Liverpool.com says: There’s no doubt that Lazio was the right move at the right time for Alberto. But you do wonder what might have been if Jürgen Klopp had decided to give him a chance when he returned from his final loan. After all, he has been a playmaking force in Serie A for many years now.
Still, there aren’t really any regrets on either side. Clearly, Lazio’s recent fortunes have taken a downturn, and it seems Alberto is now sure that he wants to move on, but his relationship with the supporters is obviously strong. He has become a legend, and no player can ask for more.
It’s still not entirely clear why he thinks it is time to step aside and let others take center-stage, with his output still pretty strong. But we’ll keep an eye on what comes next for Alberto.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Mirror by clicking here.
