Serie A giants Lazio acted "inappropriately" in their pursuit of CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda, general director Roman Babaev told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
The Japan playmaker remains at CSKA after the European transfer window closed Tuesday following unsuccessful negotiations with the Rome club, who reportedly held out for a lower price.
"The inappropriate approach to talks by Lazio played a role" in their collapse, Babaev said. "This regards the price of the player and the manner of the negotiations, around which so many rumors swirled."
He did not say exactly what was objectionable about the Lazio side's behavior, nor name the sums being talked about.
Babaev said the club had been willing to part with the talented 25-year-old, but "never has the goal of getting rid of players."
"I'm sure that Keisuke Honda, as a good professional, will put in good performances for CSKA and in the future go to a top club."
Honda has scored 13 goals for CSKA in 47 appearances since joining from Dutch side VVV-Venlo in 2009. He has been out since September with a serious knee injury picked up in a 2-2 league draw against Spartak Moscow.
CSKA have been the most active Russian club in the January transfer window, selling Brazilian forward Vagner Love to Flamengo and strengthening the squad with three players.
Last month, Sweden midfielder Pontus Wernbloom, 25, joined on a four-and-a-half-year contract from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, along with Nigerian teenage winger Ahmed Musa, who came, like Honda, from VVV-Venlo.
On Wednesday CSKA also announced the signing of little-known South Korean midfielder Kim In-Sung from the country's second division club Gangneung City FC.
