Lazio head coach, Marco Baroni, has demanded more from Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru following a fine start to life at the club, www.aclsports.com reports.
Dele-Bashiru, 23, joined Le Aquile on a season-long loan from Hatayspor this summer and played the entire duration of Lazio’s 3-1 win over Venezia in their Serie A opener at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
The Manchester City academy product was praised for his display in his debut game by all and sundry, including Baroni, but the 60-year-old stressed that, despite the obvious potential that Dele-Bashiru has, he must work hard to blend into the team and improve his all-round game.
“Dele-Bashiru has great potential,” began the tactician as reported by Lazio News 24.
“He is a lad who must understand our football and to do so he must train and play. We will give him the opportunity to do so. We also have other good midfielders who are improving. The attitude was important. He has to improve his posture, he is often closed by the opposition who doesn’t give him the chance to drive forward. But when he opens his shoulder, he is devastating. He has to become a ball-winner, but it’s not easy. It’s a complete upheaval, but he made an extraordinary contribution,” Barconi concluded.
Dele-Bashiru, who opened his account for the Super Eagles of Nigeria back in June, is keen to make a mark in the capital and recently pleaded for patience from the fans as he tries to adapt to life in Italy.
Lazio and Dele-Bashiru will continue their 2024/25 Serie A campaign this weekend when they travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Maduka Okoye’s Udinese.