Like any self-respecting soap opera, the surprise with Zaniolo it’s always around the corner. And so, after the step back against Spezia, the no which later became so belated at Bournemouth, a medical certificate aimed at ascertaining the psychophysical status of incompatibility with competitive activity, a letter to Ansa to “reach out” to the family Roma and another visit that certified about ten days of rest for now, Nicolò opens at Galatasaray. Yes, precisely to the Turkish club which has recently hoarded many players who have played in our Serie A. Just take a look at the squad of the club coached by Okan Buruk (who smiled yesterday when asked about Nico: «I can only say that I met three years ago and he impressed me a lot”), who also passed through Italy with the Inter shirt in the 2003-04 season: from Muslera to Sergio Oliveira, via Torreira, Mertens and Icardi, you’ll be spoiled for choice. And Zaniolo, in order not to miss anything, yesterday first asked the friendship of the Uruguayan director and then put a like on the Belgian’s goal scored with Trabzonspor. From the series: I’m available for transfer, take me.
ONE STEP
Indeed, there is more. The footballer assisted by his agent Vigorelli found an agreement with the Turkish club in a few hours: 3.5 million, 1.3 more than he currently earns in yellow and red. Nicolò also asked for a release clause of 20 million to be inserted. Galatasaray is willing to grant it but not at these figures. At the company’s initial proposal of 35 million, the boy’s entourage asked to lower it. Difference of views that will not affect the happy outcome of the negotiation. Nicolò, in fact, has decided to leave. He wants to play, put a January that shook him behind him, start over and do it in a club like Galatasaray, leader in Turkey, now it’s a possibility that he can’t let go. Also because it remained the only one.
The market in the Bosphorus closes on Wednesday. There is plenty of time to find an agreement between the parties. Yesterday evening the offer delivered to Trigoria was 18 million plus 4 in bonuses, for a total offer of 22 million. These are not the 30 offered by Bournemouth and not even the 23 that Milan were willing to reach, however binding the obligation of the redemption to access to the next Champions League. However Pinto has understood that this is probably the last chance to sell the footballer at these figures. If the negotiation were to fail and the deal consequently postponed to the summer, the risk – with the footballer who is currently out of the project by the coach, despite having been confirmed in the UEFA list – is to sell him off in a few months for around fifteen million . Zaniolo agrees, Pinto too, only the OK from the Friedkins is missing. To date, it seems unlikely that the deal can jump. So here we are: after 4 and a half years, Zaniolo’s adventure is close to saying goodbye. Perhaps already today the footballer could fly to Istanbul to undergo medical examinations. All you need is Dan’s green light.
THE PROPHECY
Yesterday Nicolò has already contacted Mertens, Icardi and Torreira who have advised him not to let the opportunity slip away. And in fact the city is splendid and Galatasaray, despite not being the Turkish tournament in the European elite, by winning the championship is ready to make its return to the Champions League. Precisely that competition that launched him in February 2019 with a brace against Porto. It was the era in which there was talk of Zaniolo as Totti’s heir. Francesco, when asked, however, had foreseen everything: «My heir? It seems a bit excessive to me, I wish him the best but maybe he is talking about it too much ». He wasn’t wrong.
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