Baronio tips Lazio for Champions League berth

Former Lazio midfielder Roberto Baronio believes the club have a realistic chance of reaching the Champions League.

The Rome-based side will need to claim third spot if they are to qualify for next season’s edition of Europe’s elite club competition, but the 34-year-old, who is now a free agent having left Atletico Roma last summer, is adamant it could happen.

“I personally believe that Lazio can fight for a third-place finish and grab a place in the Champions League but I do not think they can win the Scudetto,” Baronio told Goal.com.

Baronio then spoke of possible January reinforcements for the team and stated that CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda, who has been linked with the club, could be a valuable addition to the squad.

“Talks of Honda coming to Italy have been around for some time. At Lazio there are some quality players in midfield but I think he could be an asset to Lazio if he were to come,” he said.

“Japanese football is no longer what it used to be, it has grown a lot which you can see from the results of their national team. I think that Zac (Alberto Zaccheroni) is helping them a lot.”

Baronio, who earned one international cap in 2005 during his career, also poured cold water on a possible return to the Stadio Olimpico for Mauro Zarate, who joined Inter on loan at the beginning of the campaign.

“I honestly believe that as long as Edy Reja is coach of Lazio, Zarate will not return to play for the club. I know him well and I think he will prove his worth at Inter,” he said.