Lazio Technical Area Coordinator Igli Tare claims he had a deal agreed for Barcelona midfielder Rafinha.
The former Albania international, who retired from playing professional football in 2008, suggests that Barça’s decision to appoint Luis Enrique as Head Coach scuppered his plans to bring Rafinha to Rome.
“My greatest regret is Barcelona’s Rafinha,” he told Lazio Style Radio 89.3, as reported by website Football Italia.
“He was coming to Lazio, he accepted the transfer in the summer, everything was done.
“Unfortunately Luis Enrique messed up all of our plans. When the Blaugrana decided to rely on him, the player went off the market. He would have been an important signing, one that would have raised the team’s technical level.”
Rafinha had played under Luis Enrique whilst on loan at Celta de Vigo during the 2013/14 campaign.
The 21 year-old scored four goals in 33 appearances for Os Célticos and was a key part of a side that finished 9th in La Liga.
This season, Rafinha, whose father is former Brazil international Mazinho and brother Thiago plays for Bayern Munich, has netted twice in 19 appearances.
