Maurizio Sarri has opened up about his emotional return to Lazio, describing the past year as one of the most difficult periods of his life.

The veteran coach stepped down from his position at Lazio in March 2024 due to personal reasons and a feeling that the project had reached a dead end. However, this summer, he made the decision to return to the club and resume his work at the Stadio Olimpico.

“Coming back to Lazio feels like coming home,” Sarri told Tuttomercatoweb. “The fans here truly embraced me.”

“It might not have been the smartest decision professionally, but emotionally, it was an easy one. The last year has been terrible — I lost some very important family members, and for many months, football felt irrelevant. Now, I want to get back to doing what I love.”

On Interest from Fiorentina

Sarri also addressed rumours linking him with Fiorentina, his hometown club, after the departure of Raffaele Palladino.

“There was minimal contact, but only after I had already signed with Lazio,” he clarified. “I will always cherish the support Fiorentina fans showed me during such a difficult time — they were extraordinary. It was truly touching to see my photo displayed across the city.”