Croatian Forward Rejects Lazio, Surprises with Choice of New Club

Croatian striker Franjo Ivanović is set to leave Benfica this summer, having turned down a move to Italian side Lazio. The young forward arrived at Benfica for over 20 million euros last season but saw limited playing time.

With new players arriving and increasing competition for attacking positions at Benfica, the club is keen to sell Ivanović. He was reportedly close to joining Lazio, but rejected the offer from the Rome-based club. Gennaro Gattuso, Lazio's coach, had reportedly promised him the role of first-choice striker.

However, Ivanović's priority is to play in European competitions next season. This desire led him to decline Gattuso and Claudio Lotito's offer. He is now expected to accept an offer from French club Lens, according to Fabrizio Romano. Lens finished second in their league last season, securing a spot in the Champions League, which is a key factor for Ivanović's decision.

The Croatian international missed out on selection for the World Cup this summer due to insufficient playing time at his club. He hopes that his move to Lens will provide him with more opportunities to play and impress the new national team coach, Slaven Bilić.