Roma Midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo’s Father: “We Offered Nicolo To Spezia But Then Inter’s Academy Came Calling”

Igor Zaniolo, father of former Inter youth midfielder and current Roma start Nicolo Zaniolo, has revealed that the current Giallorossi player had been close to joining Spezia.

Speaking to Genoa-based newspaper Il Secolo XIX in an interview published in today’s print edition, he explained that before the Nerazzurri had taken an interest in the midfielder, they were in talks to have him join Spezia.

Zaniolo has been something of a “one who got away” for Inter, having joined the Giallorossi in the summer of 2018 as part of the deal to bring Radja Nainggolan the other way.

The 22-year-old has been one of Roma’s star men since joining, and has been one of their key players once again this season under Jose Mourinho.

Before moving to the Italian capital, however, the midfielder had been one of the top prospects within the Nerazzurri’s Primavera team, though it was not always obvious that he’d join there.

“When we left Fiorentina he was seventeen, and we offered him to Spezia but they were already full,” he said, “so Entrella came calling, and then Inter.”