Maurizio Sarri told Lazio not to sign the Manchester United midfielder (Picture: Getty)
Lazio’s president has revealed manager Maurizio Sarri vetoed a deal for Manchester United midfielder Fred.
Fred is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer and Serie A side Lazio expressed interest in bringing him to Italy.
But ex-Chelsea boss Sarri blocked the deal by telling Lazio he was not interested in signing Fred and instead hoped to sign Napoli duo Piotr Zielinski and Samuele Ricci.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito told Messaggero: ‘I was prepared to open talks with Manchester United and bid for Fred, but Maurizio Sarri told me no – he doesn’t want Fred.
‘He did the same with [Giovani] Lo Celso… Sarri wants [Piotr] Zielinski and [Samuele] Ricci.’
Fred, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2018, is one of a number of Manchester United players being linked with summer moves.
Fred is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag has bolstered his squad with the signings of England midfielder Mason Mount and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana and is closing in on a deal for Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund.
Ten Hag is also keen to welcome a new central midfielder to Manchester, though that is reportedly dependent on summer sales.
Fred, 30, has made 213 appearances for United since signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018.
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Sarri vetoed the move.
