Lazio sports director Igli Tare has praised departed striker Libor Kozak and wished him luck after allowing him to join Aston Villa on transfer deadline day.

The Czech international forward arrived in the West Midlands for a £7m fee and comes with a glowing reference from his previous employers.

Tare has revealed that Kozak had asked for a transfer and that Lazio were willing to accommodate his request, even though they did not acquire any of their own forward targets as replacements.

"Kozak to Aston Villa? He had asked to go away and we satisfied him by lowering our financial demands," Tare told Lazio Style Radio.

"I thank him for what he gave to Lazio, he is one of the most professional players I've ever known."

The Serie A outfit unsuccessfully attempted to sign both Galatasaray's Burak Yilmaz and Fabio Quagliarella before the close of the window on Monday.