Roma aren’t any closer to reaching agreement with Nicolò Zaniolo on a new contract, and the negotiation could easily last until the summer.
TIRANA, ALBANIA - MAY 25: Nicolo Zaniolo of AS Roma celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the UEFA Conference League final match between AS Roma and Feyenoord at Arena Kombetare on May 25, 2022 in Tirana, Albania. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Roma and Zaniolo Likely to Stay in a Holding Pattern

Roma aren’t any closer to reaching agreement with Nicolò Zaniolo on a new contract, and the negotiation could easily last until the summer when he’ll have just a year left on it. The Giallorossi recently met with his agent Claudio Vigorelli to discuss his other clients, and there were no advancements, Alfredo Pedullà informs.

The parties will eventually discuss it in another summit, perhaps in January, but it hasn’t been scheduled yet. The representative and the club don’t seem in a rush to come to terms. Both hope he’ll have a strong second half of the season, simplifying the decision and the talks.

Zaniolo has been linked to Milan and Napoli, but he’s unlikely to transfer to a Serie A team anytime soon, the transfer market expert adds. Roma want €40/45M to part ways with him. The only club that could potentially spend that much in January is Tottenham. They almost acquired him last summer.

Juventus have long coveted the Italian starlet, but they couldn’t make such a sizeable investment in the past window. They would be in the mix if he didn’t ink an extension and Angel Di Maria left, as probable.

Our Take on Roma and Zaniolo

If they don’t strike a deal before June, or preferably February, he’s as good as gone in the summer because they can’t possibly keep him on an expiring deal, risking losing him for nothing in 2024. But the reservations about handing him a large contract are legitimate. He hasn’t been able to put it all together and shine consistently since his major injuries. It’s a situation that doesn’t help his price tag either. The recent buzz is typical posturing by the agent to apply pressure.

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