Former Lazio coach Edy Reja has hit back at claims that he forced Mauro Zarate out of the club.

The Argentine's future is in doubt following an unsuccessful loan move to Inter Milan last season, and a fallout with Lazio seemingly making a return impossible.

Zarate's agent claims that club President Claudio Lotito and sporting director Igli Tare were "very nice to him".

"When they spoke to him, they called him a part of the club. Inside the dressing room, someone didn't like him. Reja? Not just him, a group of players," he said.

"In all the tests last summer during training and tactics, the coach never fielded him, only Miroslav Klose, and Mauro felt dejected."

Reja responded to these accusations by claiming that the issue with Zarate was in fact with the president, sporting director and his former agent.

"I would only like to point out that last summer I didn't sideline anyone and Zarate was always involved in all exercises and tactical schemes. Then, logically, when there are new purchases they should be tested," he explained.

"In attack I had two players like Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse and I always chose to try them in the pre-season friendlies. The same went for Senad Lulic. This doesn't mean that others were being set aside.

"Indeed, in the end you can see that overall completed minutes were pretty much the same for all members of the squad last season. To find out why Zarate left don't ask me, ask the club and his agent at the time."

Reja remains unemployed after his resignation from Lazio, while Zarate's future remains up in the air.