The Giallorossi’s annoyance with the Italian midfielder was very evident at the press conference of Jose Mourinho ahead of his team’s trip to Napoli.
What did Jose Mourinho say?
The Giallorossi’s fraught relationship with Nicolo Zaniolo took a new turn on Saturday as the attacking midfielder refused to meet with Bournemouth officials over a possible transfer. This angered his club, who were looking for a destination for the midfielder. In his press conference ahead of the Napoli game, Jose invented this disappointment.
“Unfortunately, Zaniolo seems to be staying,” Roma head coach Jose Mourinho said. “I’m saying this because he told all of us that he doesn’t want to play or train for the Giallorossi.” After the game with Spezia, I said that I thought he would stay, and now I say that, unfortunately, it looks like this. I can’t give details, but it’s not available tomorrow. All that matters now is that we are focused on tomorrow’s game with players who want to do well for this club.”
What will happen after this?
The Nicolo saga has become a major feature of the Giallorossi transfer window, with the 23-year-old intent on finding a way out. Bournemouth’s proposal was the only one deemed acceptable by the board of directors, but Nicolo Zaniolo appears to have had higher ideas. Both sides will hope that an acceptable offer arrives before the Tuesday handover deadline. If not, it could be tense for months ahead if the club follow up on their threat to freeze the Italian midfielder from the squad.
The former two-time head coach of the Blues is said to be keen to return to Stamford Bridge should any decision be made regarding Potter.
How was everything?
There is information that the 60-year-old has already sent out tentacles regarding a potential replacement for Graham Potter if the former Brighton manager leaves the club anytime soon. The Blues, however, have confirmed their intentions to support their current head coach. There is information that the Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho feels like he is not supported by the Giallorossi board in terms of transfer funds and will be keen to rejoin his wife and children in London.
A little about the topic
It’s easy to see why Jose Mourinho feels like his money has dried up looking at the Giallorossi’s recent business. However, upon his arrival in 2021, the club spent €126.5m (£111m/$157m) on the likes of Eldor Shomurodov, Marash Kumbulla and Tammy Abraham.
However, last summer proved to be less eventful by a margin, as the Italian side only spent money on one permanent arrival, that is, the arrival of Turkish defender Zeki Celik from Lille for £6m (£5m/$6.5m). Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic has arrived, as has Dybala, while Wijnaldum has joined PSG on loan. The money that was once there is now gone.
With a return to London seemingly off the cards for now, Jose Mourinho’s focus should be on getting the Giallorossi back into the Champions League for the first time since 2018, thus building on the success of last season’s UEFA Conference League win. They are now sitting fifth in Seira A, equal on points with Lazio and Inter above them. They take league leaders Napoli away from home on Sunday.