Lazio president pushing for new rules to retain young players

Claudio Lotito is urging the Italian Football Association (FA) to modify home-grown player regulations. The Lazio president has taken a stance on the issue, in an attempt to prevent young players from being enticed outside of their home countries.

Lotito’s comments have been linked to Federico Macheda, the 17-year old up-and-coming star who proved his capabilities on the field during his first match with Manchester United last week. Macheda started with Lazio, leaving in 2007 after being trained and refined by the club’s youth system, as reported by Sky Sports.

Not surprisingly, Lotito believes that a change is necessary to stop young players from abandoning their native clubs. Regulations dictate that young players cannot enter into a contract with an Italian club until the age of 18. This varies slightly in comparison to English rules, which allow young players to sign a contract two years earlier.

Lotito told Sky Sports that the club took every necessary measure to stop Manchester United from alluring Macheda, further indicating that the Italian regulations offered nothing to support them on their quest to keep the young player. Lotito likened the process to that of a “proper cattle market,” noting that he even went so far as to speak with Macheda’s parents.

In the end, Lotito could not contend with the offer Manchester United presented to Macheda. Despite the fact that Lotito appears to be struggling with the bitterness of the move, Macheda’s agent has since revealed that the former Lazio member does not regret joining United.