Top 10 Flops 1980-2026, Positions 6-10 Very Disappointing

A list of the most disappointing signings over the last 45 years or so. By no means the worst players but those who have not lived up to the expectations.

10) Daichi Kamada - Sushi, Kawaii, Manga but not Kamada

Official SS Lazio photo

Daichi Kamada arrived at Lazio from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023. Lazio signed the Japanese attacking midfielder as a free agent with a one-year contract with an option for two more.

Kamada had previously played for Sagan Tosu in Japan, Sint Truiden in Belgium and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany for six seasons in two spells but the last five consecutive. In the Bundesliga he had played 127 games with 20 goals, in the German Cup 14 games with 6 goals and in Europe 37 games with 14 goals (including 3 in the Champions League). In 2018 he won a German Cup and in 2022 the UEFA Europa League. He had earned 29 caps for Japan with 6 goals.

He was considered an exciting attacking midfielder. He was right-footed but could play with both feet, had good athleticism and shooting skills, was good in the air and was a reliable penalty taker.

In Lazio's 2023 summer transfer market he was thought to be the most interesting signing (others included Matteo Guendouzi, Nicolò Rovella, Gustav Isaksen and Valentín Castellanos).

At Lazio he struggled especially until March under Maurizio Sarri. When Sarri resigned, and Igor Tudor took over, Kamada improved but was still nothing to write home about. In total he played 38 games (29 in A, 2 in Coppa Italia and 7 in Europe) with 2 goals (both in A, Napoli and Inter away). His finest moment came in Napoli where he scored the winner in a 2-1 win against the reigning champions. At the end of the season an economic agreement was not found and both sides seemed quite pleased to part ways.

At Lazio Kamada seemed timid, lacking initiative, light-weight and neither meat nor fish, between a midfielder and forward but also neither. As mentioned, he improved after the change of managers but nobody tore their hair out when he left for Crystal Palace after only one season in Rome.

He has been with the South-London Eagles ever since, playing 89 games with 3 goals ( 62 in PL, 11 in domestic cups, 15 in Europe plus the CS) and winning the League Cup and Community Shield in 2025 and the Conference League in 2026.

He now has 51 caps for Japan with 14 goals (including 2 up to now in WC 2026).

At Lazio he could have several excuses; a problematic year for Sarri with family health issues, the linguistic barrier, a new country and style of play but the fact remains that Kamada was not a success.

9) Juan Pablo Carrizo - Not the Messiah After All

Source Lazio Wiki

Juan Pablo Carrizo was signed by Lazio in the summer of 2007 from River Plate. However, due to bureaucratic obstacles he was left to the "Millonarios" for another year and arrived in Rome for the 2008-09   season. Claudio Lotito paid 7.5 million Euros for him, his most expensive signing so far, and gave him a 5-year contract.

In Argentina he had proved to be an excellent goal stopper. He had played 68 games for River plate and won a Clausura league title in 2008. He was strong (1.89 and 88 kilos), agile for his size and flamboyant with his feet. In April 2007 he had won his first cap for Argentina.

At Lazio he was hesitant, uncertain and took too many risks with his feet. By January he had lost his place to young Uruguayan Fernando Muslera. Carrizo played 23 league games and at the end of the season asked to leave. He at least had won a Coppa Italia under Delio Rossi although he only played 1 game and Muslera was the hero in the penalty shoot-out.

Carrizo went on loan to Real Zaragoza and then River Plate both for a year.

In 2011-12 he was back at Lazio but only played 2 league games under Edy Reja. The main keeper was now Federico Marchetti and Lazio also had Albano Bizzarri. In January Carrizo went on loan to Catania in Serie A.

In 2012-13 he was back at Lazio with Vladimir Petkovic as manager. Marchetti was still first choice and Carrizo only played one game in Coppa Italia. He was however the hero in that last 16 cup game against Siena when he saved two penalties in the shoot-out. In January he left for Inter. Lazio went on to win the Coppa Italia defeating historic rivals Roma 1-0 in an unprecedented and epic derby final. Carrizo had played a part in December.

He stayed at Inter four and a half seasons but only played 9 league games, 7 in Coppa Italia and 11 in Europe. The main keeper was Samir Handanovic.

At Lazio Carrizo was a let-down. The wait had been spasmodic as his arrival was continuously put off. The fans were awaiting the new Felice Pulici, Luca Marchegiani or Angelo Peruzzi, he came nowhere close.

8) Stefano Chiodi - It's not Only About the Penalty

Source Lazio WIki

Stefano Chiodi at Lazio arrived from Milan in the summer of 1980. He was not eligible to play until November due to his 6-month suspension for the Calcioscomesse scandal.

Chiodi had previously played for Teramo but above all Bologna and Milan in Serie A. He had scored 32 goals in the top flight and won a Scudetto with Milan in 1979 (24 league games and 7 goals). He had earned the nickname "Mister Miliardo" for the cost of his transfer from Bologna to Milan in 1978.

He was a quick and agile striker. He could play as centre-forward or with another striker. He was good in the air and an infallible penalty taker.

He arrived at Lazio with the club in Serie B due to the Calcioscomesse punishment. The manager was highly rated Ilario Castagner and it was thought with a top flight level striker of Chiodi's calibre a return to Serie A would not be too difficult. As mentioned, he played from November onwards but generally disappointed. He played 28 league games with 6 goals, including 2 penalties (Bari, Lecce, Monza, Vicenza, Atalanta and Rimini) and 2 games in Coppa Italia. In the penultimate game however, on June 14 against Vicenza, he missed a crucial penalty in the dying minutes. Lazio drew and basically said goodbye to promotion finishing 4th.

The following year he returned to Bologna on loan in A. He scored 1 goal in 15 league games (Avellino) and 1 goal in 3 Coppa Italia games (Reggiana) but in April suffered a serious head injury.

After months of rehabilitation in 1982-83 he was back at Lazio who were still in Serie B. The Biancocelesti had Bruno Giordano back in attack plus Claudio Ambu and Leonardo Surro. Chiodi only played 10 league games with no goals. Another anonymous season for him but Lazio won promotion.

In his first stint he was not the class striker Lazio had hoped for but despite missing the infamous penalty at least scored 6 goals, while in his second stint he was poor and probably still suffering from his injury.

He then left Lazio and his career continued at lower levels with Prato, Rimini, Pinerolo and Baracca Lugo.

A big signing at the time but the name Chiodi does not bring back happy memories to Lazio fans.

7) Armando Madonna - Nothing Holy About Armando

Source Lazio Wiki

Armando Madonna arrived at Lazio in the summer of 1990 from Atalanta.

His career so far had been Atalanta 1981-83 (19 games-1 goal), Piacenza 1983-89 (169-43) and Atalanta again 1988-90 (57-12).

He was a right winger. He was a tireless and inventive player whose main strengths were his runs down the wing and his crosses for the strikers. His last two years in Bergamo had been particularly good

.

At Lazio he was seen as the perfect assist man for new striker Karl-Heinz Riedle. The German did fine with 9 league goals but his winning headers came mainly from the left from Raffaele Sergio. Madonna played 25 league games with 2 goals (Bologna, Genoa) and 2 games in Coppa Italia but his statistics hide the fact that he was never the player admired in Piacenza and Bergamo. He looked quite the opposite; slow, clumsy and predictable.

After only one season he was loaned back to Piacenza in B, he then spent a year with SPAL in B (relegated) and nine with Alzano Virescit (Bergamo) between C2, C1 and B.

A dynamic and exciting player before but he had a forgettable year at Lazio.

6) Vedat Muriqi - The Mystery of the Missing Pirate

Source Lazio Wiki

Vedat Muriqi arrived at Lazio from Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2021. Lazio paid 20 million Euros for the Kosovarian known as the Pirate.

He had played in Turkey for six seasons, two at Giresunspor (23 goals) one and a half at Gençlerbirliği (10 goals), one and a half at Çaykur Rizespor (25 goals) and one season with Fenerbahçe (17 goals).

He had played 29 games for Kosovo with 15 goals.

It was especially his season at Fenerbahçe that convinced Lazio to invest in him.

He was an extremely tall centre-forward (1.93) with a good left foot. He was a classic striker, quick over short distances, strong, held the ball up well for the team, excellent heading skills and a reliable penalty taker.

Lazio fans saw little of all this. In a season and a half, he played 49 games (38 in A, 3 in Coppa Italia and 8 in Europe) and scored 2 goals (1 in A and 1 in Coppa Italia, both against Atalanta away). In his first season Lazio finished 6th under Simone Inzaghi. He then left in January of his second season while under Maurizio Sarri.

Muriqi was a fish out of water at Lazio. He was unable to do anything well, whether keeping possession or shooting and even his heading skills disappeared. When he jumped, he hardly left the ground. It was literally impossible this was the real Muriqi. In his defence Lazio rarely played to his strength with decent crosses but this is not enough to justify the quality of his games in Rome.

He left in January 2022 and joined Mallorca. He was initially on loan but then in the summer the Bermellones signed him for 10 million Euros. He has since returned to being a dangerous striker. In the Baleares he scored 58 goals and has also netted another 17 goals for Kosovo. He has now returned to the Blue and Yellow side of the Bosphorus.

Muriqi will forever remain an unresolved mystery in Rome.

The second part will be published tomorrow.