Jamie Carragher has described Lucas Leiva as a “great servant” to Liverpool as he puts the finishing touches to a transfer to Lazio.
The Serie A club posted images on their official Twitter account on Monday morning of the Brazil international undergoing medical tests after agreeing the terms of a transfer.
Liverpool legend Carragher, who played alongside Leiva for many years before he called a halt to his own football career, took to Twitter to respond to the Lazio tweet, wishing the 30-year-old “good luck” and urging him to be as effective at the Stadio Olympico as he was at Anfield.
Good luck @LucasLeiva87 you’ve been a great servant to @LFC now do the same at Lazio! #Unluckeeee https://t.co/WwrOR4V0Uq
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 17, 2017
Lucas has spent the last 10 years at Liverpool after being bought by Rafael Benitez from Gremio in 2007 but he has been pushed down the pecking order in recent seasons despite remaining a valuable squad player.
He has spent most of his career as a midfield enforcer but has dropped back to be used equally often in central defence in the last two seasons at Anfield, usually as cover for the senior centre-backs.
It has been reported that Lazio will pay Liverpool £5million for Lucas and intend to use him in central midfield following the £17.5million sale of Lucas Biglia to AC Milan.
Lazio are currently managed by Simone Inzaghi and will compete in the Europa League next season after a fifth placed finish in Serie A in 2016-17.