SoccerNews.com

S.S. Lazio’s Mauro Zarate is least happy with the way things are shaping up for the Stadio Olimpico tennants.

Zarate’s brother Sergio, a former football player himself and Mauro’s agent, admits that the striker was not expecting a relegation battle.

Zarate spent last season on loan at Lazio, netting 13 goals in 35 appearances in the Serie A.

He considered his options, before accepting to sign a permanent deal at the Stadio Olimpico from Qatar’s Al-Sadd.

However, Lazio have endured a poor start to the season, and are currently 16th in Serie A.

And their current predicament is not sitting well with Zarate, according to his brother.

“Mauro isn’t happy at Lazio, he didn’t expect that he was going to have to fight with the team for avoiding the relegation,” Zarate said.

“The president had said to us that he had built a team for the Champions League but then he didn’t do anything for making it improve.

“In correct moment we will analyze if the conditions for staying exist or if we accept one of the offers that the president will receive.”

But the 22-year-old has also caused some controversy in Italy by claiming the Italian Football Association (FIGC) have made enquiries about the striker possibly switching allegiances from his native Argentina.

Zarate. who has an Italian passport, is not in the plans of Diego Maradona.

“A board member of the Italian Federation got in touch with us,” the player’s brother is quoted as saying.

“So if Maradona doesn’t call Mauro we will have to consider this proposal.”

However, the FIGC chief Giancarlo Abete has rejected the claims.

“I read about that this morning, and to say that I was astounded would be an understatement,” he is quoted as saying by Datasport.

“It is the first time that I have heard of something like this and I am curious to know which person in the federation has contacted Zarate’s brother.”