Roma CEO Tiago Pinto met with Claudio Vigorelli, the agent of Nicolò Zaniolo, yesterday. The executive communicated that the management would not negotiate his new contract during the summer. The 22-year-old is tied to the club until 2024, with inferior wages compared to their top stars Tommy Abraham and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the capital side is ready to sell the prodigy. However, they have yet to receive an offer that comes close to their demands. They have set a €55/60M price tag. They would have to give 15 percent of the fee to Inter. The front office seems more open to accepting a player in return than in the past. Mainly because other teams value the attacker significantly less.
Roma could probably get the sum they requested for Zaniolo only from a Premier League club. Pinto talked with Tottenham director Fabio Paratici yesterday. They reportedly examined young defender Joe Rodon. Newcastle United could table the largest bid, but the player is unwilling to go there.
Juventus and Milan are keeping close tabs. The Bianconeri could propose €25/28M plus Arthur or Weston McKennie, and that could be the basis to start a negotiation, the outlet adds. The Scudetto winners had reportedly dangled Alexis Saelemaekers and €25M in cash. The Giallorossi would reprise the extension talks in September if the forward stayed.
Our Take on Zaniolo and Roma
With such move, the club has basically put the starlet up for sale. They risk ending up holding the bag if he does not depart because his price tag will rapidly decrease after this summer, unless the new contract comes quickly, which does not seem particularly likely. If he were not this expensive, he would be an ideal target for both the Old Lady and the Rossoneri.