Gennaro Gattuso’s arrival at Lazio opens a genuine opportunity for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. The question is whether the Super Eagles midfielder can grab it with both hands when preseason starts.
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Nigeria international Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is entering what could be the most defining summer of his Lazio career, FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. Lazio officially confirmed Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach on Tuesday, June 23, bringing in the 48 year old former Italy and AC Milan boss to replace Maurizio Sarri ahead of the 2026-27 Serie A season. For Dele-Bashiru, the managerial change is as much an opportunity as it is an unknown.
Gattuso arrives at the Stadio Olimpico after a turbulent spell as Italy head coach ended in April 2026 when the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, losing a playoff to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He had been working at Formello for several weeks before Lazio made the appointment official. The club was clear on what they want from him “His experience, professionalism, and determination will contribute to achieving the club’s sporting objectives.”
With a new season approaching in Serie A, Nigerian football fans can follow Dele-Bashiru’s performances and back the Super Eagles in upcoming qualifiers through the Bet9ja sign-up bonus, currently available to new users ahead of the season restart.
What Dele-Bashiru Produced in 2025-26
The 25 year old had a mixed but ultimately encouraging debut full campaign at Lazio in the 2025-26 season. He made 24 Serie A appearances, including 11 starts, accumulating 1,187 minutes of league football and contributing one goal. That goal came on May 23, the final day of the season, when his finish helped Lazio to a 2-1 win over Pisa. It wasn’t the output of a consistent starter, but it showed what he can deliver when given the moment.
Across all competitions, Dele-Bashiru has now made 57 appearances for Lazio since joining initially on loan from Hatayspor in 2024, totalling seven goals and four assists. The club activated his €5.4 million buyout clause and tied him down to a contract running until 2028, a signal that the club believes he has a future in Rome despite his inconsistent use under Sarri. Maurizio Sarri himself noted Dele-Bashiru’s ability to improve defensive balance when introduced from the bench, a nod to the Nigerian’s physical presence and work rate in the middle third.
Why Gattuso’s System Could Suit Dele-Bashiru
This is where the appointment gets genuinely interesting for Nigerian fans. Gattuso built his playing reputation as one of Europe’s most combative defensive midfielders at AC Milan, winning two Champions League titles and the 2006 World Cup with Italy. His coaching philosophy carries the same DNA intensity, pressing, physical dominance in midfield. Players like Franck Kessie and Diego Demme thrived under him at Milan and Napoli because they had the engine to sustain his demands across 90 minutes.
Dele-Bashiru stands 1.86 metres tall and combines that frame with genuine athleticism, ball-carrying ability and the willingness to attack from deep positions. Those are exactly the qualities Gattuso prizes in a midfielder. The transition from Sarri’s possession heavy, technically intricate system to Gattuso’s high press, physically demanding approach could unlock a more central role for Dele-Bashiru rather than leaving him as an impact substitute. Fans looking to track his progress across Serie A fixtures this summer can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code for the latest welcome offer before the new season kicks off.
The Transfer Noise Around Him
Dele-Bashiru has not been without interest from elsewhere. Manchester United reportedly considered him as part of their midfield rebuild ahead of 2026-27 after Casemiro’s departure, with Lazio believed to value him at around €18 million. Premier League clubs including AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have also been linked with his signature. The fact that Lazio chose to publicly confirm Gattuso’s appointment while Dele-Bashiru remains on the books suggests the new manager has been briefed on the squad and has not pushed him out of the door.
Gattuso inherits a club dealing with significant financial constraints. Lazio failed to qualify for European football for the second consecutive season during Claudio Lotito’s presidency, a damaging stretch that has limited their spending power. That context makes keeping a contracted, developing midfielder like Dele-Bashiru more attractive than selling at a discount and replacing him. It’s a situation that works in the Nigerian’s favour, as long as he performs when Gattuso watches in preseason.
For Super Eagles supporters with money to spend on the new Serie A season, Bet9ja’s YOHAIG promo code remains the best starting point before the opening round of fixtures in August.
The Super Eagles Angle
Dele-Bashiru’s club form directly feeds his national team standing. He was part of the Super Eagles squad that claimed bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, cementing his position as a reliable international option. His journey to that point hasn’t been straightforward. Born in England, he came through the Manchester City academy from age eight before moving to Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager, then building his career through the Championship and Hatayspor in Turkey before Lazio came calling.
A 57 game, two-season stint in Serie A by age 25 is a real foundation. Now, with a manager arriving who built his greatest successes by maximising exactly the kind of midfielder Dele-Bashiru aspires to be, the timing is as good as it’s likely to get. Gattuso’s first preseason in Rome will tell the story quickly. If Dele-Bashiru earns a starting spot, this could be the season that changes everything for him in Italian football.
📌 Did You Know?
- Gennaro Gattuso has managed clubs in four different countries Italy (AC Milan, Napoli), Spain (Valencia), France (Marseille) and Croatia (Hajduk Split), before taking the Italy national team job in 2025. Lazio is now his sixth senior club role as a manager.
- Dele-Bashiru was born in England and came through the Manchester City youth academy from the age of eight. He never made a senior appearance for City before joining Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent basis in July 2020.
- Before joining Lazio, Dele-Bashiru spent time at Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor, scoring eight goals in 36 league appearances. His performances there attracted Lazio’s interest and led to his initial loan move in 2024.
- Gattuso’s Napoli side won the 2019-20 Coppa Italia, defeating Juventus 4-2 on penalties. Diego Demme and Franck Kessie, both midfielders who shared physical qualities with Dele-Bashiru, were central figures during Gattuso’s most successful coaching spells.
- Italy have now failed to qualify for three consecutive FIFA World Cups, missing the 2018 edition in Russia, the 2022 edition in Qatar, and the 2026 edition in North America. Gattuso was in charge for the most recent qualification failure, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff in April 2026.
- Lazio’s failure to qualify for European football in consecutive seasons under Claudio Lotito’s presidency is the first time the club has gone back-to-back without European competition since the early 2000s, underscoring the scale of the rebuild Gattuso faces.
- Dele-Bashiru’s contract at Lazio runs until June 2028. At the time of signing, his weekly wage was reported at approximately €46,000, placing him among the club’s mid-tier earners and reflecting the investment Lazio have made in his development at this stage of his career.
