Zaniolo is worth gold. Doubt Rome: capital gain or new leader?

M. Cecchini – A. Pugliese

April 16
– Milan

That time is an abstraction can also be understood from the parable of Nicolò Zaniolo. After the double knee injury that made him lose almost a year and a half of his career, the real return to the football scene was not last August against Trazbonspor, but two days ago with Bodo. Mind you, in recent months the Roma striker has played several good games and also scored some good goals, but the hat-trick against the Norwegians – which earned him qualification for the Europa League semifinals – seemed like the epiphany of a recovered champion.

In a European match from “inside or out” Nicolò was able to show most of his showcase repertoire: sprint, power, touch, nose for goal. As always happens, now there will also be hunting to take credit. Is the rebirth the daughter of the peeling of the rust due to the long stop? To Mourinho’s “stick” who kept him out in a couple of matches he cared so much about (Spezia and Lazio)? To Nicolò’s patience in enduring doom without controversy? To the adaptability in gaming systems that he doesn’t hear about him all the way? Be wary of those who know everything and want to explain it. Merits and faults, as always, are to be shared. But what matters is that Zaniolo is back. And at 22 he still has a future to write about.

the rebirth

–

Things change. So it should not surprise us that Nicolò Zaniolo has also changed. From the time of his dazzling debut to today, the Giallorossi striker has greatly increased his muscle mass in the upper body. This is also to better control the power that he is able to release thanks to the lower limbs. A large part of his work, then, is assigned to prevention. Having both knees operated on, in fact, forces Nicolò to additional work that can prevent him from relapses. The other front on which he is called to operate concerns tactics. As the months go by, Zaniolo also rises from the point of view of the wealth of knowledge. At the beginning of the season, the 4-2-3-1 didn’t seem to be in his ropes all the way precisely because it forced him to do a cover job which then led him to be less lucid at the time of the conclusion. Different speech for the 3-5-2. If the construction of the maneuver allows him to search for depth while having space in front of him, everything proceeds in the best way (as seen with the Bodo). If, on the other hand, he has to play with his back to the goal and receive the ball from a standing position, everything becomes more tiring for him. The further front in which Zaniolo seems to have changed is inner growth. First of all thanks to the recently discovered paternity, which often contributes to making them grow up. Then there is also more. Knowing how to cushion adversity. Whether they are in relations with the coach or with fate (read the goals that do not arrive). The club also offered him the help of a “mental coach”, but Zaniolo said no. The resurrection, for now, is just his sack flour.

market

–

A premise: in the story to be written there will be no good or bad, only people who move according to contingent convenience. The facts. Zaniolo was bought by Inter for 4.5 million, plus 15% on resale. With the Uefa parameters that are about to take place, it is useless to hide that a possible sale of the attacker would represent an excellent capital gain for Roma. With great honesty, both Pinto and the player said the permanence is not certain. But Nicolò in Rome is fine and would gladly stay, as long as he feels at the center of the project. Which means having a contract renewal on Pellegrini’s figures (about 6 million with bonuses). At the moment, in fact, earning more or less 2.2 million (with prizes), there are almost a dozen Giallorossi who receive more than him. Given that the Friedkins have decided to postpone the contract talk to the end of the season, for the moment it is easier to listen to the market sirens. In the front row there is Juve, who have been probing him for some time but – without even counting the foreign clubs – watch out for the twists, given that Zaniolo also likes Milan. The discrimination will be given by the requests. If they settle at around 50-60 million, the Rossoneri (who do not exceed 40) could pull out, unless the change of ownership arrives. Moral: the first word is to the Friedkins, who will decide the offer of engagement. Then the market will speak. taking into account the closer the contract expires (it is now 2024), the more the value will drop.

golden couple

–

Immediately after the 3-0 scored on Thursday at Bodo, Zaniolo enjoyed the many hugs he received from his teammates. To one, however, he responded with particular affection, a sweet kiss on the cheek, a gesture aimed at sealing a relationship that was born in September, then taking off with the passage of time. That kiss there was aimed at Tammy Abraham, with whom Zaniolo returned to make an attacking couple in the Conference League match and with whom the Giallorossi jewel has a consolidated relationship of friendship. “My brother”, wrote Abraham himself on social media immediately after the goal scored by Zaniolo in November against the Ukrainians of Zorya, in the roundabout, with a photo in which Tammy hugged Nicolò, pointing him to the curve, as if to say “yes, that’s it. he”. Concept reaffirmed yesterday: “Congratulations on the hat-trick brother”, complete with a little heart on fire. Because the two are really close friends, they often hang out even off the pitch, perhaps also due to a personal closeness that immediately led them to find each other. As, moreover, they often found themselves on the field. When Mou had opted for the 3-5-2 they were the two attacking pairs, when he instead decided to turn towards the 3-4-2-1 Zaniolo slipped between the two attacking midfielders, but in fact he has always been the second striker, the most advanced and most dedicated to the offensive phase. Now it will be necessary to understand what Mourinho will do next Monday in Naples, but it is almost certain that Zaniolo will start again as a starter. And again as a right-wing attacking midfielder, ready – in fact – to become second striker again and also to take away pressure from Abraham from the point of view of the opposing scoring. After all, that’s just how it is done between friends.