Sky Sport Italia claim Nicolò Zaniolo may reconsider Bournemouth’s offer, following reports he would be left in the stands by Roma if he failed to agree a move. The 23-year-old has requested a transfer away from the club this January and while his preferred destination is Milan, only Bournemouth have met the Giallorossi’s valuation of the player.
The relationship between club and player is broken and beyond repair after he refused a recent call-up, with coach Jose Mourinho confirming the situation is now untenable:
“Unfortunately, it looks as if what I said is coming true and Zaniolo will remain at Roma. When a player tells you, the club and his teammates: ‘I don’t want to wear the Roma jersey, I don’t want to play, I don’t want to go back to training…’.
Sky Sport Italia report that Roma are angry with Zaniolo after he allegedly refused to meet with emissaries from Bournemouth to discuss personal terms after they flew from England to meet with him in person. His agent Claudio Vigorelli reportedly informed the Premier League side that the Zaniolo wasn’t interested in joining a team struggling to avoid relegation this season.
There were also claims that Zaniolo requested a release clause set at €25m for the summer in case Bournemouth were relegated or if an offer comes in from an Italian club.
The suggestion is that Roma management are prepared to let the youngster sit in the stands for the remainder of the season if he fails to agree the move, and this may yet force Zaniolo to reconsider the offer.
Tensions are at a high, and Roma Ultras made their feelings known last night, unveiling a banner in front of the Colosseum that read: “Zaniolo traitor and s**t without honour!”
