Edy Reja appeared set to quit his coaching job at Serie A side Lazio following a reported confrontation with president Claudio Lotito.

The 66-year-old coach has decided not to be with the team in Spain, where they play a difficult round of 32 second-leg game in the Europa League against Atletico Madrid on Thursday. The Spanish side won the first leg 3-1 in Rome last week.

The Repubblica daily said on its website on Wednesday that Reja had an animated meeting with Lotito and sporting director Igli Tare following a 5-1 league defeat at Palermo on the weekend. Lazio are placed fourth in the Serie A.

It appears the Reja’s relationship with the Rome club worsened in recent weeks over the lack of new arrivals in the January transfer window.