Nicolo Zaniolo may have been tempted to take a pay cut at Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur before swapping Roma for Galatasaray, the Italy international’s mother tells Corriere dello Sport.
Nicolo, join the club. We’ve saved you a seat between Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba.
Zaniolo, just months after scoring the winner in Roma’s UEFA Conference League final over Feyenoord – tears of joy rolling down Jose Mourinho’s face – found himself persona non grata at the Stadio Olimpico, the latest in a long line of players embroiled in a very public dispute with the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss.
Tottenham Hotspur wanted former Roma ace Nicolo Zaniolo
“We had the chance to change (in the summer of 2022). We spoke to the club, who said he could leave for 50 or 60 million euros,” explains Francesco Costa, Zaniolo’s mum.
“He didn’t receive such offers, so he remained at the club and he was happy about it. However, he expected a contract extension.
“It wasn’t about the money. Nicolo realised he was no longer part of the project. Roma told him they wanted to sell in June, so he felt he had been pushed aside.
“It was said that he refused to play for Roma, that he is a traitor. People don’t know he played with injections because of a shoulder injury.”
According to Fabrizio Romano, the long-term Tottenham target was ‘keen’ on a move to North London during the January window. Spurs, however, were only offering an initial loan deal, drifting out of contention once Turkish giants Galatasaray proved that they were willing to put their money where their mouth is.
‘Didn’t reach an agreement’
“Nicolo would have lowered his wages or asked for the same money he earned at Roma (if he had joined) AC Milan or Tottenham. However, these clubs didn’t reach an agreement,” Costa adds, before playing down rumours that her son could have signed for a newly-ambitious AFC Bournemouth outfit.
“Then there was Bournemouth, who did not offer 5 million euros per season. That is not true.”
“It was almost an immediate choice (to join Galatasaray) because they made us feel trust. They wanted Nicolo, and it wasn’t difficult to find an agreement.”
According to Romano, Galatasaray have paid nearly £15 million up front for Zaniolo. A deal that could rise to £26 million with add-ons.
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