Arsenal are said to be interested in bringing Roma maestro Nicolo Zaniolo to the Premier League in 2023.
That is according to Radio Radio in Italy, who believe the Gunners are hoping to lure the Italy international to the Emirates Stadium as Mikel Arteta aims to improve his midfield department.
If a deal between Arsenal and Roma does materialise, then Arsenal fans should get very excited based on who Zaniolo has been compared to.
What’s the story?
Well, for those of you who do not know too much about the 23-year-old, a few comparisons may help you gain an understanding of his playing style.
The Roma No.22 was once likened to Paul Pogba by Roberto Mancini, in what was a very bold statement.
As quoted by Goal, the Italy boss said: “I’ve seen some qualities, he’s completely different from (Nicolo) Barella, Jorginho and (Marco) Verratti. He has the characteristics to do very well. The comparison with Pogba is there.”
However, Zaniolo’s father made an even bolder comparison, likening his son to Ballon d’Or winner Kaka – again covered by Goal.
The Arsenal target has also been told he plays in a similar way to Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard by Stefano Vecchi, who added that the Roma playmaker is a “midfielder of quality and energy” – high praise indeed.
By all accounts, Zaniolo is a superb footballer, and we can certainly understand why Arteta and Edu are targeting him.
Arsenal pushing to sign Zaniolo
Interestingly, Arsenal are not just looking at Zaniolo, but they are actively making moves to sign him.
According to Roma Giallorossi, the Gunners have already made contact with Roma as they look to beat Tottenham to his signature, so be sure to keep an eye on the situation.
Nicolo Zaniolo profile
Full name: Nicolo Zaniolo
Age: 22
Date of birth: 2nd July 1999
Height: 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Nationality: Italy
Place of birth: Massa, Italy
Club: Roma
Position: Attacking midfielder
Salary: £76,000-a-week
Net worth: £4.2m
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