Nicolo Zaniolo is edging closer to the exit door at Stadio Olimpico following his exclusion from the team’s travel to La Spezia. Roma won 2-0 thanks to a brilliant performance by Paulo Dybala, but were missing Zaniolo, who had earlier requested to be left out of the Serie A fixture in Liguria following a hectic few weeks.
Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur have been reportedly leading the race for his signature, having offered a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy. However, latest developments as per La Repubblica (via MilanNews) have indicated a shift in momentum towards Milan, with the Rossoneri eyeing a deadline day move for Zaniolo, perhaps also on an initial loan deal. The Massa-born forward has 18 months left on his Roma contract.
#Milan, ecco il piano per #Zaniolo: cifre, dettagli e la risposta al Tottenham https://t.co/17FQ5QfNAd
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) January 23, 2023
Giallorossi boss Jose Mourinho spoke after Roma’s victory against Spezia and shed light on Zaniolo’s future.
“The market is open and he has shown a desire to leave, but this does not mean that he will go away. Nicolò is an important player, he has an important value and the things that are on the table are impossible to accept. If there is an important desire to leave, there must be an equally important offer.” (via MilanNews)
Milan were eager to sign the 23-year-old last summer but the playmaker eventually chose to stay put at Roma with the vision of extending his contract. That however, has remained a distant possibility in recent weeks and months, as negotiations have led nowhere. Arsenal a
Mourinho: “Nicoló Zaniolo has asked to leave the club — but it’s not sure that it’s gonna happen. Current proposals are not enough”. ??? #transfers
“We only need a good proposal to let Zaniolo leave, and we’ve not received it. My feeling is that at the end, he will stay”. pic.twitter.com/fORldyFmoc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2023
It now seems likely that Milan and Spurs will not only clash in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, but also in the transfer market for one of Italy’s most high-profile prodigies. Arsenal and Newcastle United are also said to be interested suitors.
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