Mauro Zarate joins Lazio

Former Birmingham City striker Mauro Zarate has joined Serie A hopefuls Lazio on a deal worth an estimated £13.5 million over three years. There was apparently some interest in the Argentinian from a number of Premiership clubs.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito confirmed Zarate was joining: “I am accustomed to only announcing a signing after I have deposited the contract with the authorities and this has not happened yet. Therefore it is not true that we have already captured Zarate. We are working on three top class objectives and hope to land at least one.”

Zarate said: “At last! I am happy. This is a dream come true.”