Keegan & Rozehnal Speak On Lazio Move

Newcastle United Defender David Rozehnal, who this week moved to Lazio on a loan deal till the end of the season has spoken to the press with regards to his move and how he hopes it extends to a permanent move rather than the loan deal currently agreed.

Lazio do have the option to buy at the end of the season, they have paid Newcastle 1Million Euros to take the 27 year old on loan and would need to pay an additional 5Million euros should the switch be made permanent.

Rozehnal who signed for Newcastle in June of this year from Paris St Germain for £2.9Million plus £200k, said;

"Because I want to play. I know I will not have it certain there either but I think I will be getting more chances to play there than at Newcastle.

I was not feeling well there most recently. I was playing in different positions so when this offer came I did not hesitate.

I have appeared in most of the games and did a good job. Despite that, all of a sudden I was put aside.

I hope that in the summer I will be satisfied with this decision. It was a quick one but not a rash one,

I was not feeling at Newcastle that I would be playing regularly. Lazio paid big money for me so I believe they will give me a chance. I want to make the best of it, not only for me but also for Lazio and also for the Euro 2008."

Speaking of his move to Rome, Rozehnal said:

"I would like to spend plenty of years there (lazio), I feel I need to settle down in a high-quality club. And Lazio are of a high-quality, although they may not have been so successful lately."

In addition to David's comments his Agent Pavel Zika supported the move away from Engand.

"Two days ago, he told me 'I want to leave'. And Lazio wanted him, he was the number one target for them. David has fulfilled his dream as he has always wanted to play in Italy or Spain."

Newcastle United fans were suprised at the move to release a defender, after failing to secure the services of Jonathon Woodgate, despite Rozehnal failing to set the North East alight in his 7 month stay.

As a result Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has also made his position clear on the move, though once again there seems to be a difference in opinion between the management and the fans.

Keegan said:

"If we've got strength in any position, it's the one David wants to play in.

Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye are coming back after Senegal got knocked out (of the African Nations Cup), and that's two more defenders.

We were of the opinion that he wouldn't play where he wanted to play, and he made it perfectly clear he wasn't happy with that.

I don't think in the remaining games he would have got as many starts as he would want being an international player."

However, Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye are NOT available for the match tomorrow against Middlesbrough - but look set to return against Aston Villa next weekend.

Keegan said:

"I feel a bit sorry for them, as Senegal probably had the players to even win the tournament.

But the other part of it is that they're going to come back and be involved against Aston Villa, and with the si ze of our squad, that's a big plus.

Half of you wants them to do well, but the other half wants them to come back."