Reported Tottenham Hotspur target Nicolo Zaniolo is capable of ‘flashes of genius’ just like former AC Milan hero Dejan Savicevic, Fabio Capello told Corriere dello Sport.
It has become something of an annual tradition on British shores; situated somewhere between Shrove Tuesday and the May Bank Holiday.
Whenever the transfer window looms into view, reports linking Roma and Italy star Zaniolo with a big-money move to the Premier League are never far away.
While Liverpool have been mentioned in the past, it is usually Tottenham Hotspur’s name dominating the gossip columns.
Zaniolo’s agent admitted to the Daily Mail back in 2019 that Spurs had indeed shown what he deems ‘concrete interest’ in the one-time Inter Milan youngster, comparing him to North London legend Paul Gascoigne for good measure.
A cruelly-timed cruciate ligament injury wrecked any hopes Zaniolo might have had of finally sealing a move to England a few months later but, after recovering from an extended spell on the sidelines, the rumours have returned with a vengeance.
Will Tottenham miss out on Nicolo Zaniolo yet again?
According to Calciomercato, Tottenham have approached Roma about a deal for the 22-year-old in recent weeks, although it is hard to imagine that Jose Mourinho would be thrilled about the prospect of selling one of his most prized assets to the club who handed him his P45 just six months ago.
“He has to start from the wing and unleash all his physical strength, as Savicevic did in my (1994 Champions League-winning) Milan side,” said Capello, refuting suggestions that Zaniolo could be used as a ‘false nine’ by Italy boss Roberto Mancini.
“In general, I believe that the players should be placed in the natural roles.
“The comparison between the two (Zaniolo and Savicevic) does not seem risky to me, as long as Zaniolo returns to what he was before the injuries. He, too, has flashes of class and genius like Dejan.”
According to Calciomercato, Zaniolo is likely to rebuff Tottenham’s advances in favour of a new contract at Roma. The Giallorossi are expected to hand him a sizeable rise on his current £40,000-a-week wages.
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