The summer market has been shut for over week. But no-one told those chasing Lucas Biglia - nor Claudio Lotito.
It all kicked off when his hometown newspaper reported that Biglia had agreed a new deal with the Lazio president to 2020. Apparently it would see his salary sky rocket and put an end to rumours of a move to Real Madrid or Manchester United.
However, in a sure sign of how delicate the situation is, Biglia actually put in a personal call to a local journalist to have the story amended.
“I have not signed any renewal with Lazio," the midfielder declared while away with Tata Martino's Argentina.
Biglia's defiance followed confirmation from an agent of a Real Madrid offer last month. The Spanish giants tabled their bid just as enquiries arrived from Manchester United, with Lotito informing Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, that "€25 million won't be enough, you'll have to go to €50 million" for him to part with the 29 year-old.
United didn't go beyond an informal enquiry, but Real did slap in a bid - which fell well short of Lotito's valuation.
"A week ago I took an offer to Lazio of €22 million from Real Madrid," confirmed agent Alessio Scalera, who acts as an intermediary for Lazio.
At 29, you can understand Biglia now feeling it his time to move up in the world.
If it seems Biglia has been around forever, it's probably because he has. The Argentine was part of the 2005 U20 World Championship winning team, which saw off John Obi Mikel's Nigeria in the final. But while teammates Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid) and Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol) all left for the La Liga, Biglia remained at home with Argentinos.
It wasn't until the following year that Europe came calling - but is wasn't Spain or England where he landed, instead he took the modest route to Belgium and Anderlecht.
In the Jupiler League, he would serve a seven-year apprenticeship, where he would be mentioned alongside Europe's biggest clubs, including Real and United, but was never the subject of a firm approach.
At 27, time was running out for Biglia - until Lotito brought him to Rome two years ago.
The move was transformative. Within a year, Biglia, dubbed 'a flying Redondo' by the Italian press, was playing in the World Cup with his old U20 friends, helping Argentina and Messi to the final. Immediately after Brazil 2014, Real came knocking, but Lotito refused to do business.
"It could have been a good opportunity," Biglia said at the time.
"But I do not complain. At Lazio I am comfortable, I feel appreciated."
Biglia, at that stage, was simply happy to be again recognised among his country's best players.
"The World Cup did not change my life, it enriched me at a football level, brought me a new education. It helps me a lot to play next to Javier [Mascherano], who is tactically very intelligent. I'm proud to be selected with such figures.
"In football, I feel more normal. I try to learn by watching them, both on and off the field. At Lazio, except [Miroslav] Klose, everyone else is more or less the same level.
"Mascherano is not my only role-model, I also try to learn from Xabi Alonso and [Andrea] Pirlo. But I am fortunate to play alongside him,."
Twelve months on and after helping his nation reach the Copa America final, Real tried again to convince Lotito to sell. But were met with the same response. United and Woodward also made their attempt. But Lotito would not budge.
So why all the fuss for a player now entering the veteran stage of his career?
For many observers, there isn't a better No5 in the game today and Biglia's sudden elevation over the past 12 months has only confirmed what many talent spotters have been saying about the Argentine since his days at Anderlecht.
But it's not just on the pitch where Biglia's presence is felt. With United and Real undergoing a radical exodus of senior talent over the last year, it's understandable why both giants have attempted to convince Lotito into parting with his Argentine.
But Lotito enjoys a great rapport with Biglia and rather than cash in, he named his senior midfielder club captain for the new season. As clean and clinical he is on the pitch, Lotito has long appreciated the passion with which Biglia tackles his football. You only have to listen to the midfielder talk about his international career to realise why Lotito is so desperate to keep hold of such a genuine personality.
"I've cried many times for the national team. Not once or twice, but many times.
"What I know is I feel so much when I wear this (Argentina) shirt, but each call is unique. That tingling you never lose. The first time I cried was when I traveled from home and was selected for the U15s; later, when I was told I was going to Finland for the U17 World Cup, also when we became the U20 champions in Holland, with Leo (Messi) and the other guys who are part of this (current) squad.
"And the last, when (Alejandro) Sabella confirmed to me in a cafe in Rome that I would be among the 23 for the World Cup in Brazil."
What Lotito is now banking on is more tears from Biglia, but only for his Lazio - and not for Real Madrid or Manchester United.
