Lazio have been ordered to release striker Goran Pandev from his
contract by the Lega Calcio, his lawyer has confirmed.
Pandev has been trying to terminate his stay with the
Biancocelesti since the summer and has not played for the club all
season.
The decision by the Lega Calcio's contract dispute resolution
chamber means the FYR Macedonia frontman can leave on a free
transfer in January.
"Pandev's appeal to the Lega Calcio's arbitration board was
welcomed and they said we were in the right," Mattia Grassani told
reporters.
"So Goran's contract has been resolved and the club have been
ordered to pay 160,000 euros in punitive damages as well as the
legal costs.
"There are eight pages of reasoning (in the copy of the
sentence) and now I'll read it calmly."
Reports suggest a return to Inter Milan is the most likely
prospect for Pandev, although Juventus and Tottenham are also said
to be interested.
Pandev was under contract with the Nerazzurri for three years
but was shipped out on loan twice and never played a game for the
Italian giants.
Speculation is also rife that the 26-year-old could further
anger Lazio fans by moving to bitter city rivals Roma.
Pandev has been at Lazio since 2004 and quickly became a firm
fans' favourite at the Stadio Olimpico.
However, matters turned sour last summer when Lazio revealed
that they would not accept a bid of less than 19million euros for
Pandev after he filed a transfer request.
The Macedonian was branded a "rebel" by club president
Claudio Lotito and frozen out of the squad, as well as being forced
to train separately from his former teammates.
Lotito insists he will not give up on his battle over
Pandev's contract.
"I'm calm," he told Radio Radio.
"I can only say that it doesn't end here.
"I have already showed people that I don't give up. It
doesn't end here.
"We'll see then who wins."
Pandev's contract with Lazio was set to expire next summer.
