Roma ace Nicolo Zaniolo would be a ‘bargain’ even at £50 million amid interest from Premier League giants Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, former Serie A man Massimo Brambati tells Tuttomercatoweb.
It’s fair to say Zaniolo divides opinion.
A case in point; Earlier this week, ex-Italy international Antonio Cassano claimed it would require a stroke of ‘madness’ for any club to pay £50 million for a footballer who ‘has no qualities’.
That is more than a little harsh. Zaniolo is one of the most naturally talented footballers to emerge in Italy over the last decade, and scored a wonderfully inventive goal to decide the UEFA Conference League title in May. But Cassano’s comments point to a wider argument. Is Zaniolo a superstar-in-waiting? Or another painful case of lost potential?
Tottenham and Newcastle like Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo
Tottenham Hotspur – and Fabio Paratici for that matter – are long time admirers of a powerhouse forward once labelled the second coming of Paul Gascoigne (Gazzetta dello Sport). Newcastle are interested too.
But is Zaniolo a £50 million bargain? Or a risk best left avoided after a pair of damaging cruciate ligament injuries?
“I am a great admirer of his. He and (Juventus’ Federico) Chiesa are the (Italian players) most ready for a great team, even abroad,” says Brambati.
“I stress that this player has had two very serious injuries that would have knocked anyone down. I know what it means to recover from such injuries.
“Whoever takes him, I believe, secures a bargain. If the boy is disciplined in a certain way and runs in the right way, has incredible physical potential.”
Roma will listen to offers for the 23-year-old former Inter Milan youngster. Talks over a new contract at the Stadio Olimpico have broken down in rather acrimonious circumstances (Calciomercato).
And despite accusations of wasted potential, Zaniolo still contributed eight goals and nine assists during Jose Mourinho’s debut season in the Italian capital, with some suggesting a new role as a centre-forward could be on the cards for a footballer who’s natural athleticism is not quite what it was after a series of long-term injuries.
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