Lazio have been enjoying a splendid start to the campaign, and some of the credit should go to Christos Mandas and his decisive saves.
The Biancocelesti parted ways with Ivan Provedel after four years, agreeing to sell the experienced goalkeeper to Inter Milan. The club then opted for an internal solution, entrusting Mandas with the starting gloves despite failing to make a single league appearance last season, whether during the first half of the campaign under Maurizio Sarri or his brief loan spell at Bournemouth.
Ahead of Sunday's game against Juventus, Il Messaggero (via Lazio News 24 ) recalls how the Greek custodian was on the Old Lady's shortlist to replace Michele Di Gregorio and Mattia Perin. However, Gennaro Gattuso refused to sanction the 24-year-old's departure, even when presented with the opportunity to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga, who currently serves as Arsenal's second-choice keeper.
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The Roman newspaper argues that Gattuso has won his bet, with Mandas proving him right. The Greece international has thus far registered three clean sheets and conceded only four goals in the first six rounds of the Serie A campaign. He was picked as the MVP of the game against Venezia after making decisive saves, including one from the spot.
Moreover, the source identifies Mandas as the Serie A goalkeeper who prevented the most goals (4.36), thus outperforming all of his peers, including Cagliari's Elia Caprile, Frosinone's Lorenzo Palmisani, as well as established figures such as Atalanta's Marco Carnesecchi and AC Milan's Mike Maignan.
The Piraeus native only cost Lazio €1.3 million when making the move from OFI Crete in the summer of 2023. Transfermarkt estimates his current value at €10 million, but this figure will certainly soar if he continues to deliver impressive displays. Luckily for the Biancocelesti, they have him under contract until June 2029.
