Lazio ultras confronted Ciro Immobile and his family in public this week, followed by a barrage of derogatory comments online after Taty Castellanos, his replacement, scored immediately with his first involvement in the match against Frosinone. Over recent months, the team’s captain has increasingly become a target for fans’ criticism, a sharp contrast to his previous status as their revered figure due to his consistent goal-scoring performance.
The resignation of Maurizio Sarri on Tuesday triggered a wave of indignation and speculative narratives regarding the reasons behind it, exacerbated by President Claudio Lotito’s insinuation that the coach had been “betrayed” by certain players.
Immobile and his family encountered hostility from unidentified individuals in public, with minimal support from President Lotito, who nonchalantly responded, “So what? I have been under police protection for the last two decades. I receive thousands of death threats daily.”
During Lazio’s Serie A match against Frosinone, online platforms were inundated with insults as Immobile squandered several clear scoring opportunities. He was subsequently substituted for Castellanos, who promptly capitalized on his debut, heading in a goal from a free kick delivered by Luis Alberto.
One supporter remarked, “Their ire wasn’t directed at Sarri but at Immobile.”
Another comment read, “In just 10 minutes, Castellanos achieved more than Immobile in an entire season.”
A third observer noted, “Immobile had five chances, zero goals. Taty had one touch, one goal.”