Nicola Zalewski’s rollercoaster performance in Roma’s match against Verona encapsulated the team’s chaotic game. Il Corriere dello Sport detail how the young defender’s critical error led to Verona’s opening goal, as Tengstedt capitalized on Zalewski’s misplaced pass to beat goalkeeper Svilar. The mistake was so devastating that Zalewski covered his face with his shirt in despair, requiring consolation from teammates, including close friend Pellegrini.
This error comes at a time when Zalewski already faces intense scrutiny from Roma fans, who have been vocal in their criticism of his recent performances. The mistake seemed to stem from a lapse in concentration following a disallowed goal for offside moments earlier.
Despite the blunder, Zalewski showed resilience, contributing positively to Roma’s attack and providing the assist for the equalizer. Interestingly, Roma’s performance noticeably declined after he was substituted for El Shaarawy, who ironically made a similar error leading to Verona’s winning goal.
Zalewski now faces an uphill battle to regain the fans’ trust and support. His future at Roma appears uncertain, with his contract set to expire and previous transfer speculations to Galatasaray. While there were indications of a potential contract renewal, the situation remains unresolved.
The young Polish international has seen significant growth in his national team career, earning praise from stars like Lewandowski and Zielinski. However, his progress at Roma seems to have stalled since the 2022 Tirana final. With time running out to prove himself at his boyhood club, this unfortunate performance in Verona couldn’t have come at a worse moment for Zalewski’s Roma career.
