Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo discussed his departure from Inter and his time with the club in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sports 24 earlier today.
“I left because I wanted to play in the first team, I thought it was over in the Primavera. I didn’t expect to go to Roma, maybe a less important team.”
The 20-year-old Italian forward, who is contracted to the Giallorossi until 2024, then revealed what he was doing when his move to Roma was confirmed.
“It was all by chance. I was out and about with my friends, my dad suddenly wrote to me telling me that I was going to Roma the next day, I left completely unaware and found myself in a top club.”
Finally, Zaniolo spoke about his relationship with Italy coach Roberto Mancini and his callup to the national team.
“He called me up to the national team before I even made my professional debut. When the coach called me up, I couldn’t believe it, I looked at the sky and thought there was a mistake. I said, it’s not possible.”
Zaniolo has made 24 appearances across all competitions so far this season, for a total of 1741 minutes. In that time, he has scored six goals and provided two assists. The 20-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament rupture at the start of the year, which risked him being unable to play this summer’s European Championships. However, the delay due to the Coronavirus emergency will allow him to recover comfortably and earn his spot in the starting squad next season. The player moved to Roma as part of the deal for Radja Nainggolan.