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Lazio land Birmingham's Zarate, and say he will be 'better than Messi'
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30 June 2008
Lazio president Claudio Lotito has revealed a deal for Mauro Zarate is almost sealed and believes the striker will eventually become a greater player than Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi.
A verbal agreement is already in place with the Argentinian's current club Al Sadd, and Zarate, who spent the last five months of the season on loan at relegated Birmingham, is expected to move to the Italian capital once the formalities are completed.
Big billing: Lazio have high hopes for Zarate who impressed on loan at Birmingham
Lotito believes the 21-year-old will be even more successful than compatriot Messi, who was runner-up in the 2007 FIFA Player of the Year award.
'We won't announce anything until we have deposited his contract with the authorities,' Lotito told Italian sports daily Corriere dello Sport.
'We are used to announcing a new signing only after the contract has been completed and that hasn't happened yet.
'But, save any complications, we are on the right path to signing the player.
'The figures that have been reported by the press don't represent the reality.
'The terms of the agreement foresee a valuation of the player which will rise to around 25million euros (£20million) because Zarate will turn out better than Lionel Messi.'
The complex agreement involves Zarate joining Lazio initially on a loan deal reportedly worth £2.3million, with the club able to buy half the rights to the player before next May for £4.3million.
They can then buy the remaining half a year later for £6.7million.
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