Spurs were linked with Nicolo Zaniolo in 2023 (Image: Getty)
Tottenham will be counting their lucky stars they didn’t splash £40million on Nicolo Zanoilo back in 2019 after the star’s fall from grace. The attacking midfielder was a key performer in with between 2018 and 2023, scoring 24 goals and providing 18 assists in 128 games for the side before he drew interest from a wealth of European clubs.
reportedly targeted the Italian star back in 2019 when he was just one year into his contract at Roma. Then-manager prepared a £40m bid for the youngster. However, a deal never materialised, and Roma kept ahold of their star man.
But in January 2023, Spurs – under – reignited their interest in Zaniolo, as reports emerged noting how the north London club were looking for a loan deal until the end of the season. However, Roma were insistent on only sanctioning a deal which involved an obligation to a permanent move – after the player had fallen out of favour with then-boss .
Zaniolo had just left the Roma brass furious after snubbing a move to at the time after the club accepted a £27m (€30m) offer for his relocation to the south coast of England. at the time noted that while Spurs liked the idea of welcoming Zaniolo, they were seeking a loan with an option to buy rather than an obligation.
A deal between the clubs once more could not be found, and Zaniolo instead teamed up with in a €16.5m (£13.7m) move. Speaking to CorSport, Zaniolo’s mother also explained why the midfielder was unable to make his way to north London.
She said: “He was ready to reduce his salary to join or , but both clubs didn’t find an agreement with Roma.” And while many fans of the Lilywhites will have been disheartened at the time, it seems as though Zaniolo’s failed transfer could have come as a blessing in disguise.
Nicolo Zaniolo never ended up at Spurs (Image: Getty)
Zaniolo made just ten appearances in the Turkish Super-Lig under Galatasaray before he was loaned out to for the 2023/24 season. And while he had more success in England than he did in Turkey, scoring two goals in 25 appearances for Villa, he struggled to find his footing with Galatasaray once again when his loan was up.
He was instead loaned to Atalanta in a one-year deal for the 2024/25 campaign with a reported obligation to buy for £12.9m (€15.5m) – a side where he plies his trade to this day. Zaniolo has featured in 23 games for the Serie A side across all competitions during the current campaign, although, he could find himself moving on to a fresh destination before the January window is up.
That’s because reported on Friday that the 25-year-old is set to see his current loan deal cut short and have a medical with . Galatasaray will ultimately have the final say on the move as Fiorentina searches for a replacement for Jonathan Ikone – who was announced on Friday as joining Como 1907 on his own deal until the end of the season. The move would be his fourth since 2023, highlighting just how much he’s struggled since bursting on the scene at Roma.