Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo has stated that he is ‘fine in Rome’. But the Italy ace also admits his agent will speak to the club amid transfer interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United.
Zaniolo is facing an uncertain future at the Stadio Olimpico under Jose Mourinho with the 23-year-old’s contract expiring in 2024. Yet the forward is not focusing on the clouds that hang over him. Instead, he is leaving it to his representatives to solve the current situation.
Roma signed Zaniolo from Inter Milan in June 2018 for an initial fee of €4.5m (£4m), plus a 15% sell-on clause. He has since offered the Giallorossi 24 goals and 18 assists over 128 matches in all competitions. The 11-cap star has hit two and created three in 17 this term.
Zaniolo’s career took a dent in 2020 when he suffered a second anterior cruciate ligament injury in less than a year. But he returned with eight goals and nine assists in 42 games last season. However, Mourinho is yet to get the same output from the forward over 2022/23.
Nonetheless, Radio Radio reports Arsenal are interested in Zaniolo’s transfer from Roma. It even claims that the Gunners could offer €25m (£22m) with the Giallorossi not in talks over a new contract. Roma Giallorossa also notes that Arsenal have held talks with Roma recently.
Newcastle could rival Arsenal for the transfer of Roma forward Nicolo Zaniolo
Arsenal sought to sound out the conditions to edge interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for Zaniolo’s transfer. But his agent, Claudio Vigorelli, is still exploring a new contract. The forward is asking for a €4.5m-a-year (£76.5k-a/w) wage plus bonuses.
Further reports by Radio Radio, plus Calciomercato.it, have also credited Newcastle with an interest in Zaniolo. But the latter publication adds that the attacker would prefer to remain in Serie A, be it with Roma or a rival club. Yet a transfer in the current sales is not impossible.
For now, though, Zaniolo is leaving it to Vigorelli to negotiate his future amid interest from Arsenal and Newcastle in his transfer from Roma. The Massa-born maestro opened up on his situation ahead of the Giallorossi’s 1-0 win over Genoa in the Coppa Italia on Thursday.
“I’m fine in Rome,” Zaniolo told Sport Mediaset. “But now let’s think about the match. My agent will talk to the club, I don’t think about these things.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
