The increasingly bitter split between the midfielder and his club has been dragging on since May, when the Biancocelesti froze him and several others out of the squad in a bid to prompt their transfers.

Nobody signed him and he is not even training with the rest of the team. The matter has already gone to the Lega Calcio, who ruled Mutarelli could terminate his contract and Lazio owed 20 per cent of his annual wage.

“The deadline for that reimbursement is November 23,” explained lawyer Marco Ieradi on Radio Erre 2.

“If Lazio do not pay, then they risk serious sanctions, such as a points penalty for the current season. If they do not reimburse the player, then we have no other choice.”

President Claudio Lotito has remained tight-lipped on the affair and the club has asked for a postponement.

“It is surprising that Lazio want to continue their legal battle against us. They are well within their rights to request a postponement, but that does not mean Lazio are right,” continued Mutarelli’s lawyer.

“I understand this behaviour less than ever now, seeing as the Lega Calcio’s ruling cannot be appealed and its motivation was written in a clear fashion.

“I don’t see where they can try to attack it. Of course, we cannot stop the President from doing what he considers to be opportune.”

Mutarelli has not commented so far on the lengthy legal battle that has stalled his career, but that is going to change.

“Up until now we have kept a low profile so as not to create too much clamour in the newspapers. I think the time has come for Massimo to reveal his side of the story and he will do next week, either in a Press conference or a video tape.”

The midfielder made his Serie A debut in 1996 and has played for Atalanta, Genoa, Palermo and Lazio, joining the Biancocelesti in 2006.