“I was terrified.” The Roma player issued a statement. The fans gave him hell

The topic of Nicolo Zaniolo’s departure from Roma was definitely one of the loudest during the last days of the winter transfer window. The Italian striker has attracted interest from Premier League clubs – mainly Bournemouth, who have made an offer of over €30m. Initially, Zaniolo turned down the offer, but when other options poured out, he was willing to accept it. By then, however, it was too late as Bournemouth had brought, among others, Hamed Junior Traore from Sassuolo.

Reacting to recent events. “I was terrified, I felt abandoned”

“For a month, Nicolo Zaniolo has been saying every day that he wants to leave. He no longer wants to wear the Roma shirt or train with the team. I think, unfortunately, he will stay at the club – said Jose Mourinho at the press conference before the match against Napoli (1: 2). The lack of transfer of the Italian made them call him a traitor and shit without honor, and then the police had to chase them away from the footballer’s house, located in the Casal Palocco district. “The situation is becoming more and more toxic,” wrote the portal calciomercato.com.

Nicolo Zaniolo decided to react and sent a statement to the ANSA news agency. In the content we can read that the Italian wants to put out the fire and reconcile with the club. “A lot of untrue things have been said and written about me over the last few weeks. I came to Roma as an unknown player and the fans welcomed me as one of their own. They gave me confidence, courage and love in terrible moments. I reach out my hand and give myself completely to at the disposal of the Roma family. The future is in our hands,” he began.

In the statement, Zaniolo also referred to recent events, including with Roma fans. “After the recent events, for the first time I was afraid for myself and my family, I felt abandoned. I was terrified because this had never happened to me before. The last few months have been a delicate period for me in which it was difficult for me to understand what my future will be “I’ve always worked hard in training and in matches. At the age of 23, I experienced things that many colleagues have not experienced in their entire career.”

Nicolo Zaniolo joined Roma in July 2018 as part of the deal for Radja Nainggolan, who left for Inter Milan. Since then, the Italian striker has made over 120 appearances for Roma, scoring 24 goals and providing 18 assists. It was Zaniolo who helped the Italian capital club win the Europa Conference League last year as he scored the only goal in the final against Feyenoord Rotterdam (1-0). Nicolo Zaniolo’s contract with Roma runs until the end of June 2024.