Nicolo Zaniolo’s father remembers how the Roma midfielder was ‘a step away’ from Juventus, before Inter ‘blitzed the competition’.
Zaniolo moved to Roma as part of the deal that took Radja Nainggolan to Inter last summer, the 19-year-old going on to break through for the Giallorossi and Italy.
However, Igor – a former player himself – admits his son could have signed for Juve before Inter swooped in for him two years ago.
Nicolo Zaniolo’s father remembers how the Roma midfielder was ‘a step away’ from Juventus, before Inter ‘blitzed the competition’.
Zaniolo moved to Roma as part of the deal that took Radja Nainggolan to Inter last summer, the 19-year-old going on to break through for the Giallorossi and Italy.
However, Igor – a former player himself – admits his son could have signed for Juve before Inter swooped in for him two years ago.
“Not everyone knows that Nicolo was one step away from Juventus,” he told Il Messaggero.
“They’d followed him throughout the [2016-17] season, along with Koln and Villarreal, who then presented offers, but they were rejected by [Virtus] Entella.
“The deal with the Bianconeri had got to the finishing line, but suddenly Inter blitzed the competition offering €1.8m that went up to €3.5m with bonuses.”