Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur will not face competition from Inter Milan for Nicolo Zaniolo, with Beppe Marotta telling Sky Italia that a bid for the Roma play-maker is ‘probably not’ forthcoming this summer.
With four games remaining in the Serie A season, any hopes that the Giallorossi had of qualifying for the Champions League, and keeping hold of their star players, appear to have gone up in smoke.
In truth, Roma only have themselves to blame, after kick-starting the re-start with three successive defeats.
Corriere dello Sport claimed a few weeks back that Roma have been forced to drop Zaniolo’s price-tag to a vastly reduced £50 million as the vultures circle around a cash-strapped Italian giant.
Jose Mourinho would love nothing more than to bring a dazzling dynamo of a midfielder to Tottenham, with Corriere dello Sera reporting that Zaniolo, who has been compared to Spurs legend Paul Gascoigne, has the perfect blend of physical and technical gifts that the manager is looking for.
Liverpool are also big fans of Zaniolo (Leggo in May).
With his market value dropping seemingly by the week, perhaps the Premier League champions could be tempted into making a big-name, big-money summer signing after all.
One club who will not be putting their money where their mouth is, however, is Inter Milan.
“He’s one of most interesting players in the league, but we haven’t approached Roma officials and probably won’t,” said Marotta, Inter’s much-admired CEO.
20-year-old Zaniolo is perhaps the most exciting talent among a crop of budding youngsters which have transformed a rejuvenated Italy side into one of the favourites to win Euro 2021.
But while there can be no doubts about his ability, his application has come under question of late.
“Zaniolo must do more to help the team,” Roma coach Paulo Fonseca told Sky Italia after the midfielder failed to track a runner during last week’s nervy win against Hellas Verona.
“He must first work for the team. Today I didn’t like (his performance). I’m not satisfied with his attitude.”
This is not exactly the kind of warrior spirit demanded in the land of gladiators.
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