Premier League duo Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur missed out on Nicolo Zaniolo and Italy coach Roberto Mancini admits it was he who urged the former Roma ace to join Galatasaray instead, speaking to Il Messaggero.
With Euro 2024 just one year away, and with Italy looking to make up for lost time after failing to qualify for the Qatar World Cup, Mancini is determined to ensure that his key players are on the right track.
The Turkish Super Lig may not be capable of matching England’s top-flight or Italy’s Serie A when it comes to stature or quality. Zaniolo, however, should find regular first-team football easier to come by in Istanbul than he might have done at a Tottenham side boasting such attacking talents as Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, Richarlison, Arnaut Danjuma, Ivan Perisic and Dejan Kulusevski.
“Zaniolo? He asked me for my opinion,” explains the former Manchester City manager. “And I told him he should join Galatasaray. I hope he will get to play a lot because he’s important for us.
“Turkey was the only possibility for him.”
Nicolo Zaniolo chooses Galatasaray over Tottenham Hotspur
According to reporter Rudy Galetti, Zaniolo eventually turned down Spurs after holding extensive talks wit the London giants, who will take on AC Milan for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
“Nicolo would have lowered his wages or asked for the same money he earned at Roma (if he had joined) AC Milan or Tottenham. However, these clubs didn’t reach an agreement,” explains the 23-year-old’s mother.
“It was almost an immediate choice (to join Galatasaray) because they made us feel trust. They wanted Nicolo, and it wasn’t difficult to find an agreement.”
Galatasaray, Fabrizio Romano report, paid £15 million up front for Zaniolo; one of the most naturally talented footballers of his generation having endured a very public falling out with Jose Mourinho at Roma.
Leeds United were also interested but, according to chairman Andrea Radrizzani, fell foul of red tape.
“We tried to sign Zaniolo by setting up a swap deal,” explains the Milan-born businessman. “But Roma had already filled all roster spots for non-EU nationals.”
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