Player will say ‘goodbye’ to Aston Villa in summer – Club ‘in pole’, set for ‘difficult’ negotiations

On Thursday, Corriere dello Sport reported Aston Villa’s Nicolò Zaniolo is attracted to the idea of returning to his youth team, Fiorentina.

Unai Emery has mainly used the 24-year-old as a substitute and he isn’t pleased with the lack of minutes at Villa Park.

Zaniolo is on loan at Aston Villa from Galatasaray and Gazzetta dello Sport state his experience with the Villans hasn’t met expectations.

Aston Villa have a conditional obligation to retain Zaniolo but that isn’t going to be fulfilled. Therefore, the attacking midfielder will return to the Turkish club, waiting to have clarity over his future that’s ‘more than uncertain now’.

The Italy international’s wish is to return to his country, where Fiorentina are ‘in pole’ to sign him. It’s said they have already made contact and are taking time before formalising a concrete offer.

That’s because it’s ‘difficult’ for Fiorentina to open negotiations under current conditions, although it’s not impossible.

Galatasaray, who can afford to retain him, value the Aston Villa man around €25m. The Serie A side could consider a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy.

Zaniolo earns €2.75m per year and Gazzetta suggest Fiorentina could afford it considering they are paying €3m annually to Nicolás González and Nikola Milenković.

In the summer, ‘it will be goodbye’ to Aston Villa and then a decision has to be made on the former AS Roma man’s next destination.