ROME. Aug 7: Lazio's new signing Ivan de la Pena called on his former Barcelona teammate Ronal-

do today to quit Inter Milan and join him at the Rome club, reports AFP.

Lazio paid 17 million dollars for the gifted Spanish midfielder. after beating off competition from Ronaldo s present club.

"So for us to play together again, there's only one solution — he's got to transfer to Lazio," De la Pena said.

This squad has great player and he would really enjoy playing here."

The Spaniard, who won the 1997 European Cup Winners' Cup with Ronaldo, is meanwhile convinced the Brazilian ace will overcome the stress which culminated in convulsions on the day of the World Cup final.

f'He's a strong person and I don’t think he is paying the price for all the pressure on

him," De la Pena said. "Ronaldo's maturity is impressive, he's a young man who has grown up in a hurry.

"But I don’t think there's any danger of burn-out because of the responsibility he has to bear. He's a good friend and 1 am pi cud to have played with him."

In the absence of Ronaldo at Lazio. De la Pena is putting his faith in the Chilean ace who rattled Italy in their first match at the World Cup finals, two-goal Marcelo Salas.

"He's a bit like Ronaldo — in that both players are fast and score a lot of goals." he said. "I think Salas could become the top scorer in the Serie A getting at least 20 goals.

He summed up: "Lazio have the potential to win the championship. this is a competitive squad," he told the Coriere Dello Sport.

"1 can't make any promises, other than the commitment to help Lazio fight on every front, right to the very end.”

Lazio, last season’s Italian Cup winners but UEFA Cup fi-

nal losers — to Ronaldo's Inter, will be among the favourites for the Serie A and the European Cup Winners' Cup this time around.

Coach Sven Goran Eriksson will get some early indications tonight, when his men turn out against Graeme Souness’ Benfica in Lisbon.

De la Pena will be supporting Roberto Mancini ana Igor Protti in attack, with Salas suffering from a groin strain while Lazio wait for transfer paperwork to come through from River Plate.