(Football news) Just a few months ago Zaniolo won the man of the match in the Europa Conference League final between Roma and Feyenoord and no one could have ever imagined a situation like this. Zaniolo has agreed to sign with Galatasaray and the Turkish side is set to offer Roma €22 million including bonuses to get Nicolò to Turkey. In January the young striker asked Jose Mourinho not to play him, because he no longer had the right mindset to play as he desperately wanted to leave the capital side.

He tried to force the move in January during the transfer window but things didn’t go the way he wanted. He was desperate for a transfer to AC Milan however they couldn’t buy him and he refused to join Bournemouth who would have bought him outright but he changed his mind a few hours from the end of the market. The failed transfer meant that he risked being in the stands for six months, without playing, waiting for a transfer in the summer. There was an agreement with Paolo Maldini, who however did not receive the ok from the owners in January to invest the approximately 30 million euros requested.

In the summer, the arrival of Paulo Dybala and emergence of the team’s new star Lorenzo Pellegrini and Tammy Abraham subsequently received a higher salary. Along with that Brazilian defender Gianluca Mancini’s and Bryan Cristante signed new contracts worth €3m-a-year but  Zaniolo wanted practically double the salary. In recent months his agent had made precise requests as the Italian international wanted around €4m-a-year. Roma stalled and took their time, waiting to see how he performs but that offer however did not arrive.

In January, the club officials informed him that the renewal would not come because his performances had not been up to par. The club was respectful with his intention not to play again as he missed three games in January and was not taken into consideration for the match against Cremonese in the Coppa Italia. Zaniolo will hope that a fresh new start in the Turkish league with Galatasaray will finally fulfill his potential that he was always capable of.

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