Nicola Zalewski’s time at AS Roma appears to be coming to an end after the Polish winger rejected both a contract renewal offer and a transfer to Galatasaray. The 21-year-old is now training separately from the first team squad as the club looks to resolve his future.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report how Roma had offered Zalewski a substantial pay increase on his current €350,000 per year salary in an attempt to extend his contract beyond 2025. However, the player put negotiations on hold while on international duty and upon returning, indicated he may prefer to leave on a free transfer next summer.
This stance prompted Roma to accept an €11 million bid from Galatasaray, which also included bonuses and a sell-on clause. The Turkish club were prepared to offer Zalewski a €2.5 million per season contract. While he initially seemed open to the move, Zalewski ultimately rejected the transfer at the last minute.
As a result, Roma have now excluded Zalewski from first team training. Unless another solution emerges before the Turkish transfer window closes, it appears the winger will remain frozen out of the squad for the remainder of his contract.
The situation marks a dramatic fall from grace for a player who broke into Roma’s first team in 2021 and was considered one of their brightest young talents. At just 21, Zalewski still has time to get his career back on track, but his immediate future at the Stadio Olimpico looks bleak after this latest impasse with the club.
