Casale: "My First Year At Lazio Was Fantastic, But In The Following Season, I Struggled To Perform Due To Various Factors. I Faced Many Challenges And, Without Feeling Supported, I Found Myself Stuck In A Limbo I Couldn’t Escape."

Nicolò Casale introduced himself as a new Bologna player during a press conference, where he discussed his departure from Lazio and the challenges he faced, particularly last season. Casale explained, "My first year at Lazio was fantastic, but in the following season, I struggled to perform due to various factors, including issues within the city. I knew what I was capable of, but I couldn’t fully express it. From the moment I arrived in Bologna, I felt a strong sense of trust, which was exactly what I had been missing. I immediately sensed a different energy here. Last year, I saw Bologna perform exceptionally well, and even though the coach has changed and there’s work to be done, I’m confident because I know the coach, the players, and my teammates. This is a strong team."

Casale emphasized, "Joining Bologna is a significant step for me. Some might think it’s a step back, but that’s not true. Bologna is a strong club, and we’re competing in the Champions League. This will be one of the most important milestones in my career. I’m at a stage of maturity where I need to show more, and this is the right place to do it. The first contact with the club? There were rumors, but no direct contact initially... Lazio never really opened up to me, and I realized the trust was gone. That’s when I spoke with Director Sartori, who showed great faith in me and pushed for me to come here. I didn’t hesitate, and the move happened quickly."

Reflecting on last year's difficulties, Casale said, "Throughout my career, things have generally gone well, and I’ve always made progress. But last year, due to environmental factors and the media landscape in that particular place, I struggled. I faced many challenges and, without feeling supported, I found myself stuck in a limbo I couldn’t escape. These tough years happen, but I’m confident I can unlock my potential here. Sarri really wanted me at Lazio, and that was a big reason I joined. He helped me develop areas of my game I hadn’t worked on before, particularly in defense, attention to detail, posture on the pitch, and handling set-pieces."