Massimiliano Mirabelli has called the transfer of Nicolo Zaniolo to Galatasaray from Roma a ‘defeat for everyone’. The Italian also held talks with Tottenham Hotspur during January.
Galatasaray have paid Roma an initial €16.5m (£14.5m), plus €13m (£11.5m) in add-ons, to seal Zaniolo’s transfer. The Super Lig team have also given the Massa-born maestro a four-year, €3.5m-a-season (£60k-a/w) contract that also includes a €35m (£31m) release clause.
Zaniolo was a highly sought-after commodity in the mid-season market but failed to seal a move within Europe’s top-five leagues. So, the 23-year-old accepted the chance to restart his career in the Super Lig following a seismic falling out at the Stadio Olimpico this season.
Tottenham target Zaniolo now joins Galatasaray following widespread interest
Reports by Football Italia note that Zaniolo asked Roma for permission to leave but turned down interest from AFC Bournemouth. He no longer wished to play at the Serie A side and would have spent the rest of the season frozen out of Jose Mourinho’s squad if he stayed.
Bournemouth were ready to pay Zaniolo €5m-a-year (£85k-a/w) after agreeing on a €32m (£28m) fee with Roma, per Calciomercato. While TuttoMercatoWEB noted Everton made a late deadline day move. Calciomercato also cited Leeds United, who he would have joined.
But Zaniolo’s preferred destination throughout January was to get a transfer from Roma to AC Milan or Tottenham. Fabrizio Romano noted the 11-cap creator held out on leaving the Giallorossi in the hope of going to San Siro or north London. But neither deal materialised.
Tottenham even agreed on personal terms with Zaniolo as they targeted his transfer from Roma, per Rudy Galetti. But Spurs were only interested in signing the playmaker on loan in January, Sky Sports reported. The Premier League side’s position would rule out the move.
Mirabelli brands Zaniolo’s transfer from Roma a ‘defeat for everyone’
Zaniolo will now look to kickstart his career with Galatasaray after leaving Roma following his transfer to Tottenham falling through. The Italy ace only scored one goal in 13 Serie A games this season. But he did hit home two and created five in 28 appearances last term.
Yet Zaniolo leaving Italy for Turkey frustrated Mirabelli as the midfielder has stepped down a level. The Padova sporting director and ex-AC Milan chief feels the move is a disaster for everyone. He is confident the player has the skills to play in any of Europe’s elite divisions.
“Zaniolo in Turkey is a defeat for everyone,” Mirabelli told TuttoMercatoWEB. “Zaniolo is a great talent for the Italian national team. With all due respect to the Turkish league, he certainly didn’t go to a top tournament like the Premier League, La Liga or Ligue 1.
“It’s not a good deal for anyone. It would have been nice if the parts had stitched up. But only those who are inside things know the facts.”
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