He started his career with medals at the European Cross Country Championships, taking the junior individual and team titles at the 2006 edition and then winning the under-23 title in 2008. He won his first track medal at the 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships, where he was the runner-up in the 10,000 metres behind Turkey's Mert Girmalegesse, formerly of Ethiopia. Following a win at the Lotto Cross Cup Brussels in December, Lalli formed part of the bronze medal winning Italian men's team at the 2009 European Cross Country Championships.