Nicolo Zaniolo showed why Tottenham Hotspur want him in the Premier League with a performance Jose Mourinho described as ‘extraordinary’ during Roma’s opening day Serie A win over Salernitana, speaking to the club’s YouTube channel.
Then again, there was nothing particularly extraordinary about Zaniolo’s finishing at the Stadio Arechi on Sunday night.
The Italy international perhaps should and certainly could have secured himself the match ball home even before the half time whistle; Spurning a hat-trick of quite-glorious opportunities during 45 Roma-dominated minutes.
But while Zaniolo might not have had a goal to show for his efforts, there were more-than enough glimpses of the exquisite talent that makes the former Inter Milan youngster one of European football’s most promising young talent.
Tottenham want Roma’s Serie A ace Nicolo Zaniolo
A barnstorming, Bull in a China shop run one minute, a fearsome 25-yard drive whistling past the post the next; It was Zaniolo’s career in a nutshell. Thrilling one minute, frustrating the next.
Nonetheless, Mourinho was pleased by what he saw from Roma’s three-pronged triumvirate, with Zaniolo, Tammy Abraham and marquee signing Paolo Dybala clicking ominously into gear on day one.
“I am very happy to see what the game has given me,” Mourinho said full-time. “Obviously it would have been better to reach 90 minutes three or 4-0 (ahead) and not 1-0.
“But what we did in the last 15, I liked because it was a sign of maturity. Dybala and Zaniolo played an extraordinary game and both could have scored two goals each.
“I’m incapable of not saying that Dybala and Zaniolo played an extraordinary game. We were always in control of the game and we got three important points.”
Mourinho has ‘put his foot down’
Earlier in the summer, it seemed only a matter of time before Zaniolo was on his way out of the Stadio Olimpico. Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly offering £30 million – plus an £80,000-a-week contract – while putting Tanguy Ndombele on the table as a potential makeweight.
Mourinho, however, would be loath to lose one of his key players. Especially to the club who sacked him just over a year ago.
“Mourinho has put his foot down and said ‘no’,” CBS reporter Ben Jacobs explains, shining a light on the Zaniolo situation.
“When Mourinho says he doesn’t want to sell a player… He has a lot more authority than most managers. If Spurs had lined this up earlier (in the window), it would have been intriguing. Mourinho was frustrated with Zaniolo (at the time).
“But he knows what he’s got in terms of age and talent.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
