Italy’s hopes for EURO 2024 have suffered a significant setback as coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed today that Nicolò Zaniolo will miss the tournament. The Aston Villa forward, who sustained a microfracture in his foot during a match against Liverpool, is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Zaniolo’s injury occurred just 15 minutes into his appearance as a substitute against Liverpool on Monday evening. Initial fears regarding the severity of the injury have now been confirmed, with Spalletti stating that the possibility of Zaniolo recovering in time for EURO 2024 is highly unlikely.
“I spoke to Zaniolo. It is very unlikely he could recover in time, in fact I would exclude that possibility entirely,” Spalletti explained during the Sport Human Factor event in Rome.
This unfortunate setback adds to Zaniolo’s history of injury woes. The 24-year-old missed Italy’s triumphant EURO 2020 campaign due to a previous injury. Despite his talent, Zaniolo’s career has been plagued by spells on the sidelines, hampering his progress on the international stage.
Currently owned by Galatasaray, Zaniolo spent the season on loan at Aston Villa. However, his impact on the pitch was limited, managing just three goals in 39 competitive appearances. Notably, he garnered attention for his disciplinary record, accumulating 12 yellow cards throughout the season.
