Lazio

Marcelo Bielsa: 'Lazio to blame for swift departure'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 09 July 2016

Marcelo Bielsa blames Lazio for his shock exit after just two days in charge of the Italian outfit, which he puts down to a lack of new signings.

Marcelo Bielsa has claimed that he was forced to resign as Lazio manager after just two days in charge due to the club's hesitancy to sign new players.

The 60-year-old, who has previously managed Chile, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille, now faces legal action from the Italian outfit as a result of his swift departure.

Bielsa has stressed that Lazio backtracked on their own promise to bring in a number of new faces, however, while also complaining that the Biancocelesti were too quick to announce his arrival in the first place.

In a direct letter to Lazio which appeared in the Argentine media on Saturday, Bielsa said: "It had been decided and made clear... that reinforcements were necessary, taking into account the departure of 18 players from last season.

"It was agreed, as an essential condition to the implementation of the work program, that we would sign at least four footballers before July 5, with the aim that they would participate in pre-season training.

"To this date, not one player has been signed. For my method of working we needed to have these players arrive in a timely manner to train."

Bielsa is thought to be in contention to replace Gerardo Martino as manager of the Argentina national team.