Newcastle United defender Achraf Lazaar has admitted he wants to be playing in Serie A next season.
Currently on loan at Serie B club Cosenza, Morocco international Lazaar has only ever made ten appearances for the Magpies in all competitions. He joined following strong form with Serie A side Palermo in 2016, but his contract at St James’ Park runs out next summer.
Newcastle have had their fair share of injury woes in Lazaar’s left back position this season, with first and second choice players Jetro Willems and Paul Dummett both spending time out. But Steve Bruce was able to convince Tottenham’s Danny Rose to sign on loan until the end of the season.
In an interview with TuttoMercatoWeb, Lazaar said: “I don’t know where fate will take me. I really believe in God. I hope to be in Serie A - the Italian championship is my home."
But he also appreciated his form in Serie B will have a baring on his future destination.
He added: “Today, the present matters, because it is the present that allows you to build the future.”
The 28-year-old played at Sheffield Wednesday last season under Newcastle’s current manager Bruce. His initial hopes to play for Bruce in the Premier League when the Englishman took over at St James’ Park never materialised.
At Cosenza, a long-term thigh strain injury suffered in late September limited him to very little football in the first half of the season, and ever since recovering he has only been a bit part player at the club.
But Lazaar’s high ambitions have been halted like everyone else’s by the coronavirus. Italy has been in lockdown for nearly a month now, and Lazaar was eager to add that he had been taking the relevant measures to stay safe.
He said: “I’m following the rules of the state to protect me, my family and others.”
Source: 90min
