Lazio manager Marco Baroni provided insight into his decision to substitute Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru at halftime during their 2-1 Serie A loss to Fiorentina on Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico.
Given his eighth start of the season by the Italian manager, the 23-year-old midfielder was substituted at halftime, with the Italian manager opting to bring on Niccolò Rovella as Lazio trailed 2-0 to the visitors.
After the challenging encounter, Baroni shared his thoughts on Fisayo Dele-Bashiru's performance, highlighting the difficulties the player faced in a tightly contested match.
Baroni reflects on Dele-Bashiru's challenging outing against Fiorentina
Speaking to DAZN as shared by Sosfanta after the match, Baroni provided a candid evaluation of Dele-Bashiru's performance in their defeat to Fiorentina, emphasising the challenges the Nigerian midfielder encountered in a game where space was at a premium.
“Dele-Bashiru? The match was difficult, he needed space, more speed in his maneuvers was needed. He did well in the first half, but it wasn’t an ideal match for a player who needed space and there wasn’t any space,” Baroni explained.
The Nigeria international joined the Italian outfit from Turkish side Hatayaspor on a season-long loan with an option to buy, with the transfer fee expected to reach €7 million, with a potential contract extending until 2028.
Since his arrival, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has made a significant impact across all competitions, featuring in 17 appearances.
In this time, the Manchester City Academy graduate has scored four goals and provided two assists, while averaging 59 minutes per game.
Prior to joining Lazio, Dele-Bashiru delivered an outstanding 2023/24 campaign with Hatayspor, registering eight goals and five assists across 36 appearances. His exceptional contributions were instrumental in securing Hatayspor's 15th-place finish in the league.
