Lazio president Claudio Lotito has defended the club over criticism of their role in Juan Pablo Carrizo's passport saga.

He said: "As for the Carrizo saga, it's not true that we were negligent. We had the deal done in July, but then things emerged that had nothing to do with us.

"If Carrizo is an EU citizen before August 31 then he is a Lazio player, if not then he will go on loan. Other than him, we don't need any more reinforcements."