Former Lazio manager Delio Rossi has admitted he’s still unsure about the true qualities of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, suggesting the Super Eagles midfielder remains something of an enigma as coach Marco Baroni assesses his future role at the club.
The 24-year-old initially joined Lazio on a season-long loan from Turkish side Hatayspor, with an option to make the move permanent.
The deal, reportedly worth €7 million, has now been finalised, securing the Nigerian midfielder's stay in the Italian capital until 2028.
With Dele-Bashiru struggling to nail down a consistent place in the squad, the 65-year-old manager believes it will be up to current boss Baroni to determine whether he can truly flourish in a box-to-box role or if his development requires a more refined tactical direction.
Delio Rossi sees Mezzala potential in Dele-Bashiru, but questions remain
In a recent interview with Radiosei, as reported by LaLaziosiamonoi, Delio Rossi — who guided Lazio to a Coppa Italia triumph during his tenure from 2005 to 2009 — offered a thoughtful and nuanced assessment of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
“I’d keep Dele-Bashiru, also because I still need to understand what kind of player he is. I like his great physicality, but we need to understand his room for improvement. I see him as a mezzala (box-to-box midfielder); he doesn’t strike me as a defensive midfielder or a trequartista.
“These are evaluations that Baroni will have to make,” the former Lazio coach stated.
The former Sheffield Wednesday player has featured in 29 matches for Lazio, starting in 18 of them. Over this period, he has contributed five goals and three assists, while maintaining an average playing time of 53 minutes per game.
