Transfer market: Zaniolo and Juve, the background of the likes

“The Red Mark of Courage” (book, American literature). The red mark is there, just choose your favorite. The cut on the forehead that Nicolò Zaniolo got in La Spezia, decisive for the penalty with which Roma won the game, or the other red mark, the heart placed on the posts of Leonardo Bonucci, Dusan Vlahovic and Manuel, is more significant. Locatelli? Those three likes, in a sense, demonstrate courage. They are probably instinctive, perhaps not very wise, however courageous: Nicolò Zaniolo, according to the unwritten language of these times, has taken a step towards Juventus … and towards his childhood.

Deadline 24

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Zaniolo as a child and as a young boy was a Juventus player, this is no mystery. Here, however, there is more, here is the summer market that anticipates the seasons and makes its way at the end of February. Zaniolo is Juventus’ first goal for the summer and he knows that sooner or later he will have to make a decision: his contract expires in June 2024 and at the moment there are no conditions for renewal. Before talking about the summer scenario, a peculiarity: the times of the triple like.

The formation of Mou

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Zaniolo clicked on the heart of the Instagram posts by Bonucci, Vlahovic and Locatelli less than 24 hours from Spezia-Rome. What had the three Juventus players written? Simply, they celebrated Empoli’s victory, as is almost always done after matches. And then, many thought that those “likes” were a reaction to José Mourinho’s training. Mou yesterday afternoon fielded another Z, Zalewski, and sent Nicolò to the bench in a very special match, in La Spezia, the city where Zaniolo grew up, where many friends and relatives were ready to run to the stadium to see him. Nicolò entered the second half and was equally decisive but in the meantime the case had broken out.

No renewal

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The moment is very secondary – there are months to go before the market – but the theme has been current since December. The situation is quite clear. Until a few weeks ago Zaniolo was ready to sign the renewal with Roma, in the event of a (very) important offer. Today that will has changed, even if it is very early to come to conclusions about the summer. For sure, Roma have postponed every speech, as testified by the words of Tiago Pinto at the beginning of February: “I cannot guarantee that Zaniolo will certainly be a Roma player next year”. And then: “The renewal of him? Right now we have to look at the team and not at the individuals”. In short, Rome has taken time and is convinced to keep its number 22 but there is a certain distance between the parties.

Merry yes

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Juventus, at this point, has a clear scoring opportunity, in a situation that has some similarities with the Vlahovic case of recent months. Juve is convinced that Zaniolo can give them a great hand in the project to return to the top and Allegri greatly appreciates: the conditions for the great deal are all there.

The contacts

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Of course, the situation is complex. First: hypothesizing an offer for Nicolò (40-50 million?) Is premature but it is obvious that spending for Juve would leave its mark. Second: the next few months with Juventus will be very complicated. Many renewals to discuss, above all that of Paulo Dybala, debated for years. And it is logical that, however fascinating, it is not easy to imagine a team with Zaniolo, Dybala and Chiesa, very different players but all tending to play on the right, where Cuadrado already runs. Juve knows it, Zaniolo knows it, but the attraction is there. What’s more, in recent months there have been phone calls, surveys, even a meeting. This story, whether “like it” or not, is only at the beginning.