Since returning to Italy on a permanent basis in 2016, Ciro Immobile is currently undergoing his most prolific season start to date having become an integral part of the blueprints at Lazio to the point where changes have been implemented to suit his strengths. Given his goal scoring prowess and imperious presence in attack over the past four seasons, can you really blame them?
Far too often in recent years, I Biancocelesti have been susceptible to defensive frailties and general inconsistencies that have been masked by the exception of their talisman.
Held in the same tier as Fiorentina and the Milan clubs prior to this season despite boasting an inferior side to their close league associates, Lazio have at times been heavily indebted to Immobile, who continues to flourish at the spearhead of their attack.
At 29, the Italian international has found his safe haven at the tenth time of asking, and whilst his goal-scoring antics have always made for impressive reading, he has reached a new level in Rome.
Following a turbulent couple of years on his travels throughout Europe, the worst spell of his career to date, Immobile’s permanent return to his home country took place at little cost (€8.75 million) and consequently, with little pressure to perform. Or so it seemed.
In his debut season with Le Aquile, Ciro chalked his name on the front of the team sheet and the back of many a fan’s shirt almost immediately, scoring nine in his first 11 matches and ending the season on 26 goals from 41 games in all competitions, 10 more than the club’s second highest scorer that season and 19 more than third.
In securing his place as Lazio’s main man and one of Serie A’s most feared forwards, Immobile also helped his side earn a place in Europe the following season, which only provided more opportunity for games and for goals which the Italian duly capitalised upon.
The 2017/18 began as it meant to go on, with success in the form of a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the Italian Super Cup courtesy of a brace from Immobile of course, and things propelled in quite preposterous fashion from then on.
It took the forward just eight games to reach double figures in the league, a spell which included a hat-trick against AC Milan in a 4-1 home win and a second consecutive brace against the champions in a 2-1 win at Juventus Stadium. Immobile was simply uncontainable from start to finish in a season that saw him win golden boot for the fifth-placed team in Serie A, and in the Europa League for the quarter-finalists.
His league record was 29 goals (and 8 assists) in 33 matches throughout which he directly contributed to a goal every 73 minutes.
As for the Europa League, he managed eight goals and an assist in nine matches, giving him an even more outstanding goal contribution rate of 64 minutes. In all competitions, he contributed to 50 goals (41 goals & 9 assists) in 47 matches. Lazio’s next highest goal scorer, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, netted 14 times. A tally that, for a midfielder, should not be discredited, but it only reinforces the ridiculous nature of Immobile’s brilliance in front of goal.
After a second season that saw Immobile pick up his first trophy at Lazio on top of four individual accolades following inclusions in the Serie A and Europa League teams of the season, there was an undoubted level of pressure and responsibility on his back. But as has been the case so often in his career, he continued to show why he is such a complete forward.
Immobile had the worst of his three full Lazio seasons in 2018/19 during what was a transitional period into a forward that is arguably more well-rounded, reliable in his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play as defenders began to target him and force him to drop deeper to have more of an effect. The worst of his Lazio seasons which still saw him score 19 and assist 12 in all competitions, and after the start to the season he has had this time around, it is clear that it was a year in which he has learnt a lot and adapted to the changes in personnel at Lazio.
I Biancocelesti find themselves in seventh place after eight games so far this season, struggling to find any sort of flow as was another big factor during the 18/19 season. This time around, however, Immobile has reached new heights. 9 games, 10 goals and 3 assists in all competitions, the Italian is a leader in their attack with such composure and unrelenting talent in the final third that few strikers possess.
As he nears the end of the prime tenure of his career, Ciro Immobile looks better than ever as he pursues a place amongst his current boss Simone Inzaghi in Lazio folklore. 143 games, 124 goal contributions (96 goals & 28 assists), one Italian Super Cup, one Coppa Italia and three years of outstanding performances as the talisman at the Stadio Olimpico, he will no doubt be remembered fondly for his time in light blue for many years to come.
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