Transfer Centre

Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo flies to Turkey for Galatasaray medical

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 07 February 2023

Roma playmaker Nicolo Zaniolo boards a flight to Turkey as he closes in on a €20m (£17.8m) move to Galatasaray on a four-and-a-half year contract.

Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo has boarded a flight to Turkey as he closes in on a move to Super Lig giants Galatasaray.

Last month, Giallorossi manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that the 23-year-old wanted to leave the club, and several Premier League sides were linked with a January move.

Tottenham Hotspur were believed to be pushing to sign Zaniolo, while Newcastle United, Everton and Bournemouth were also tipped to bring him to England.

However, the Premier League window slammed shut with the Italy international still on the books at Stadio Olimpico, but he has been frozen out of Mourinho's squad.

With clubs in Turkey able to sign players until February 8, Galatasaray offered Zaniolo an escape route, and the Super Lig side are understood to have agreed a €20m (£17.8m) deal with Roma.

Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo with head coach Jose Mourinho on September 23, 2021 © Reuters

Personal terms were swiftly agreed on a four-and-a-half year deal until the summer of 2027, and Zaniolo's deal is also set to contain a release clause of €35m (£31.2m).

Journalist Fabrizio Romano uploaded a photo showing the midfielder and agent George Gardi ahead of their flight to Turkey earlier on Tuesday, as Zaniolo prepares to complete his medical and sign his Galatasaray contract.

The former Inter Milan youngster emerged as a highly sought-after talent in his early years at Roma, but a pair of cruciate ligament ruptures in 2020 seriously hampered his development.

Zaniolo has struggled to keep fit since recovering from his second ACL injury, but he has still amassed a respectable 24 goals and 18 assists in 128 games for Roma in all tournaments, including the winner in last year's Europa Conference League final against Feyenoord.

The Italian's Giallorossi contract was due to expire in 2024, but Roma boss Mourinho admitted in January that he expected Zaniolo to "unfortunately" stay at Stadio Olimpico.

Roma's Nicolo Zaniolo receives medical attention after sustaining an injury on October 17, 2021 © Reuters

"Unfortunately, Zaniolo seems to be staying. I say that because he told all of us that he doesn't want to play or train for Roma," Mourinho told a press conference ahead of Roma's clash with Spezia on January 22.

"After the game with Spezia I said I thought he would stay and now I say unfortunately it looks like that's the case.

"I can't tell you the details, but he is not available tomorrow. All that matters now is that we are focused on tomorrow's game with the players who want to do well for this club."

Zaniolo's most recent appearance for Roma came in a 1-0 Coppa Italia win over Genoa on January 12, during which he was booed by his own fans as he was taken off on the 86-minute mark.

The playmaker has since been absent for Roma's last five games in all tournaments, and he has amassed just two goals and three assists from 17 matches during the 2022-23 campaign so far.