Lazio Pursues Franjo Ivanovic as Striker Seeks Playing Time

Lazio are pushing to the front of the queue for Benfica striker Franjo Ivanovic, betting that the one thing they can guarantee him – minutes on the pitch – will outweigh the financial muscle or glamour of their rivals.

The 22-year-old Croatia international only joined Benfica last summer from Union Saint-Gilloise in a €22.8m deal, a move that looked like the next logical step for one of Europe’s rising forwards. Instead, it has become a lesson in the limits of potential when it meets a crowded squad.

Eight goals, two assists, 42 competitive appearances. On paper, the numbers are respectable for a first season in Lisbon. The problem sits beneath the surface: Ivanovic started just 13 of those matches. For a young striker trying to cement his place for club and country, cameos and late run-outs are no longer enough.

According to Sportitalia’s Alfredo Pedullà, Ivanovic has made his priority clear. He wants to play. Regularly. That single demand is shaping the entire market around him.

Lazio believe they can give him exactly that. The club have reportedly approached Benfica with a proposal for a dry loan, a straight season-long deal with no option to buy. It is a low-risk move for the Romans, but also a statement: come to Rome, lead the line, prove you belong at the top level.

They are not alone in the chase. Como, newly ambitious in Serie A, have shown interest. Galatasaray, with their intense atmosphere and title expectations in the Turkish Super Lig, are in the frame. Hull City are exploring the possibility of bringing him to England. Real Betis have also been linked in the wider discussion around his future.

Yet Lazio sense an opening. While others can offer different leagues, different styles, they are leaning hard on the promise of a central role and the platform of Serie A. For a forward already breaking into the international scene, that matters.

Ivanovic made his senior debut for Croatia last year and has already collected nine caps, scoring two goals and adding one assist. Those early steps with the national team only sharpen the urgency. To stay in the Croatia squad, he cannot afford another season on the periphery.

From Podgorica to Lisbon and now potentially Rome, his trajectory has moved quickly. The next decision could define whether he remains a supporting act in a big club’s rotation or becomes a focal point in a team built to showcase him.