Il Corriere dello Sport report that Fiorentina are in talks to bring winger Nicolò Zaniolo back to Serie A this summer. The former Roma forward made the move from Italy to Turkey last winter, before moving on to Aston Villa on loan.
According Il Corriere report that in the weeks leading up to his passing, Fiorentina director Joe Barone was orchestrating a remarkable negotiation for his beloved club. Zaniolo, who spent six years in the Viola’s youth sector, is now on the club’s radar as a potential market target to replace Nico Gonzalez, should the Argentine depart.
Gonzalez looked set to to leave Florence last summer, with Brentford putting a substantial €45 million offer on the table. While Fiorentina managed to resist the bid, the newspaper suggest that should interest arise again from the Premier League, La Viola seem poised not to be caught off guard, as they already have an alternative plan in place.
Thus, the idea of Zaniolo returning to Fiorentina for the 2024-25 season has reignited in the mind of the Italian-American executive. Recent weeks have seen discussions between the parties, including a meeting with agent Claudio Vigorelli.
While Zaniolo made the move to Birmingham last summer, he is expected to return to Turkey at the end of the season. Villa secured him on a hefty loan deal from Galatasaray for €3.5 million, with an obligation to buy clause set at €27 million upon reaching 80% of the season’s total playing minutes. However, this milestone seems unattainable, meaning Aston Villa are likely to let him go.
