After a contentious transfer dispute in which he rejected a move to Bournemouth, Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo will not participate in his team’s matchup against Serie A leaders Napoli, according to coach Jose Mourinho.
Zaniolo declined to play in last weekend’s victory at Spezia, but this time Mourinho and the team have left out the 23-year-old as Roma try to impede rival Napoli’s march toward winning the league for the first time in more than 3 decades.
Roma are reportedly furious with Zaniolo for turning down a 30-million-euro transfer to Bournemouth after negotiations between the capital club and AC Milan reportedly fell through last week, and for not even meeting with Premier League club representatives who travelled to Italy to negotiate a deal.
After Spezia’s victory, Mourinho expressed his belief that Zaniolo would remain at Roma after the winter transfer window closed.
When Zaniolo made his debut with Roma as a teenager, he was already regarded as one of Italy’s most promising young talents, but his early career was severely hampered by serious injuries to both of his knees.
He bounced back the previous year and under Mourinho was crucial to Roma’s Conference League victory, scoring the game-winning goal against Feyenoord in the final to help the team win their first-ever significant European trophy. But after a disappointing season in Roma where Paulo Dybala emerged as Mourinho’s team’s undeniable star, he now wants to leave.
Both the player and the club have no plans to extend Zaniolo’s contract, which expires in June of the following year. As a result, Zaniolo may be sidelined for several months before a deal to leave in the summer can be worked out.
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