Multiple sources in Italy confirm the same details of the Galatasaray offer that Roma and Nicolò Zaniolo are preparing to accept, set at €22m including bonuses with a release clause for his return to Serie A in the summer.
The deal would seem to be imminent, slowed only by the earthquake in Turkey that killed thousands this morning.
Zaniolo also sent a message on his Instagram Stories of hands in prayer over an image of the rubble, showing his mind is already in Turkey.
According to sources including Sky Sport Italia, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Calciomercato.com, the bid is €15m plus another €7m in various bonuses, taking the total to €22m.
Sportitalia have a slightly different version, €16m plus €4-5m in add-ons.
Fenerbahce had seemingly improved upon that last night, but it’s reported Zaniolo had already made up his mind to join Galatasaray.
That is probably because the team already includes several former Serie A players, including Dries Mertens, Mauro Icardi and Lucas Torreira.
The contract will be worth €3.6m per season including performance-related bonuses.
Roma were hoping to spark a bidding war between the Turkish teams ahead of their transfer deadline on Wednesday.
As part of their original deal to bring Zaniolo in from Inter, the Nerazzurri are owed 15 per cent of the sell-on fee.
The other important element that Zaniolo insisted on was a release clause allowing him to return to Serie A next season.
He was pushing for €25-30m, but it seems Galatasaray have managed to hold firm at €35m.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report agent Claudio Vigorelli met with Galatasaray representatives in Italy today and Zaniolo’s bags are packed, waiting for the private jet to whisk him to Istanbul on Tuesday.
That’s another talented youngster gone then.
bad business for Roma, Galatasaray will sell him for more
come to think about it, Milan might be behind this deal: they could not afford Zaniolo this winter and wanted to avoid paying Inter a higher 15% fee of the total transfer fee. This way Zaniolo is parked in Turkey until summer and they can make sure Inter get the least.