It’s no secret that Nicolo Zaniolo is expected to return to Italy this summer, as his loan from Galatasaray to Aston Villa hasn’t worked out.
Napoli have been named as one of the potential destinations for the midfielder, as they’ll be looking for big signings in the next transfer window.
As outlet CalcioNapoli24 today features some quotes from David Di Michele, the coach made some interesting claims about Zaniolo.
The former West Ham player pointed out that the 24-year-old may not be at his best during his spell at Aston Villa, but could find his recovery very soon.
However, he believes that’s going to be down to the player’s mentality, with it thought he’s experienced similar to Mario Balotteli and Antonio Cassano given his quick rise in Italian football.
“Zaniolo is an important player. However, as happened to Cassano and Balotelli, the risk is that he lost his balance,” said Di Michele.
“When you are young, and you have everything, sometimes you feel you are master of the world. You always need respect, for your work, for the fans and for your teammates. You need to polish your character, also because you are no longer very young. It’s necessary to mature quickly. After Roma, he lost several years. The English experience was not idyllic.”
Since joining Aston Villa, Zaniolo has made 34 appearances, scoring three goals. He’s been used by Unai Emery across attacking positions, but failed to convince the manager that he deserves a place in the starting team.
With the Villans unlikely to invest in his purchase, it’s now up to Galatasaray to find a new solution for him. Italian clubs are pushing for his comeback to his home country, with Napoli being constantly linked lately.
Given the media coverage of Zaniolo in Italy, he needs to be prepared for the endless pressure coming his way.
