Former AS Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini admits Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri is one of the big regrets of his career.

Sabatini says he's long been a fan of the veteran manager.

And he revealed to Cronache di Spogliatoio: "I have great sympathy for Sarri, a lot of admiration. It's one of the biggest mistakes of my career.

"He coached in the Interregional, at Sansovino, I was the sporting director of Arezzo in C1. Many told me that there was this very good coach, I didn't believe it. One day someone came to tell me that he had 120 free kick attempts, there I said that I would never take him because for me football was a high thing.

"But at that moment Sarri had to be taken at that time, I had to take him and I didn't take him. I made a serious mistake, which I still can't forgive myself for today."