Claudio Ranieri has raved about reported Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Nicolo Zaniolo and his only issue with the Roma ace, while speaking to Corriere dello Sport.
The Italy forward blew Ranieri away after firing the Giallorossi into the Europa Conference League semi-finals against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday. Zaniolo hit a hat-trick with goals after 23, 29 and 49 minutes to build on Tammy Abraham’s early opener for a 5-2 aggregate win.
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Jose Mourinho recalled the winger to his starting line-up for the Stadio Olimpico tie for his 35th appearance this season. The Massa-born maestro also now has seven goals and eight assists in all competitions, ahead of his side visiting Serie A title-chasers Napoli on Monday.
Zaniolo had fallen out of favour over recent weeks with Mourinho not starting the 22-year-old in an Italian top-flight fixture since March 13. He also missed the first-leg of their tie at Bodo/Glimt due to a hip flexor injury that forced the nine-cap ace to sit out a league game.
Injuries have been a big part of Zaniolo’s still raw career, having missed the entirety of last season. The forward ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in September 2020, having just returned from surgery on a right ACL injury that he suffered that January.
Ranieri blown away by ‘impressive’ Liverpool, Tottenham target Zaniolo of Roma
Zaniolo’s heroics against Bodo/Glimt will not have gone amiss at Tottenham or Liverpool, with the Premier League duo keen on the Roma star’s transfer. Roma Live note both, plus Manchester United, have held exploratory talks over a possible end of the season switch.
Additionally, Enrico Camelio notes an English side has made the Giallorossi a €35m (£29m) bid. But the Stadio Olimpico hierarchy are demanding €50m (£41.5m) if they elect to sell.
Ranieri’s praise suggests Tottenham or Liverpool can sign a promising young forward from Roma if they are behind the bid. But the Premier League winning coach with Leicester City notes the Italian can occasionally be too greedy for his own good when in the final third.
“He is a decisive player, we have seen him against Bodo,” Ranieri said. “He is a striker who has to find the ball in space, he has an impressive quality and strength – even if sometimes he could pass it a little more when he is on the edge of the area.
“But when he has the door in front of him, it’s hard to go wrong. Zaniolo is what we saw on Thursday night. Mourinho knows how to manage it.
“With what he has been through he cannot always play. It is important for the boy to feel the trust of everyone: coach, teammates, club and fans.”
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