Nicolo Zaniolo’s agent has admitted that the Roma midfielder, who was rumoured to be a target for Tottenham, could not leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer as the club’s new owners did not want to let him go.
Spurs saw an offer of £45million for Zaniolo turned down by Roma, with reports indicating that the North Londoners would have been willing to offer closer to £60 million without the financial impact of COVID-19 (Corriere Dello Sport via Sport Witness).
The 21-year-old has been a long-term target for the Lilywhites, with the club also linked with a move for him last summer after he burst on to the scene during the 2018/19 campaign (Mirror).
The Italian international has suffered two ACL injuries in a year and is not expected to return to action until March of next year according to transfermarket.com.
Zaniolo’s agent, Claudio Vigorelli admitted that the midfielder’s injury, along with Roma’s takeover by American investor Dan Friedkin, ended any chances of Zaniolo leaving the Serie A giants this summer.
Speaking to Tuttosport (as relayed by Football Italia), Vigorelli said: “All the top clubs were interested in Nicolo. Then the injury, the coronavirus pandemic and the new ownership changed the situation.
“Nicolo is doing better, we hope he will be back in time for the European Championship, but we can’t rush anything.
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“Friedkin immediately put Nicolò at the centre of the project and we are very proud of this.
“He came broke through at Roma and I think it’s the right environment to concentrate on once he has recovered from injury.
“Then, we’ll see what the future brings. It goes for Zaniolo and for any other player.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Zaniolo is the one player I have been desperate for Tottenham to sign for a year and a half as I am convinced that he has all the attributes to become one of the best attacking midfielders in world football. However, in hindsight, the club will probably be counting their lucky stars that Roma rejected their offer as his injury record is extremely worrying for someone so young.
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