A £5.5 million signing in 1992, Gazzas time spent with Lazio was plagued with injuries, and particularly the cruciate ligament injury sustained in the FA Cup final a year earlier that dogged the enigmatic character for the best part of 6 months, and kept interrupting his Serie A season. Over the course of three seasons, Gazza only took to the pitch 47 times, and found the back of the net on six occasions. Unsurprisingly however, the eccentric Lazio fans were always going to adopt a character like Gazza, no matter what his displays on the pitch. True to form, his off-pitch antics didn't desert him as he punched news reporters, and belched down a microphone on live television. As one might have guessed, the media did not take kindly to Gazza's erratic ways and made it to their mission to drive the mercurial Northerner out of the country. Lazio's owner was also left to resent the former Toon man's crude mannerisms, including disparaging remarks he made about his daughter. He was also told several times - including by renowned boss Dino Zoff - to shed the excess weight that he had been carrying. To his credit, Gazza obliged, but proceeded to pick up further injuries, including a broken leg in training, whilst attempting to tackle a sprightly Alessandro Nesta. He did eventually recover, but he then swiftly parted ways with the club. For him though, despite the adoring fans he commandeered in 'Italia', he will rue his time in Rome as nothing but three seasons of constant injuries.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
