Nicolò Zaniolo’s tense relationship with the Stadio Olimpico continued, as the former Roma midfielder was shown a red card after the final whistle of Fiorentina’s 1-0 defeat to the Giallorossi.
The 25-year-old had been substituted in the second half, with coach Raffaele Palladino replacing him with Albert Gudmundsson after 61 minutes.
Zaniolo’s return ends in red amid Roma hostility
Zaniolo’s performance was bleak and uninspiring, further complicated by the hostile reception from the home crowd, who booed him heavily every time he touched the ball.
That atmosphere may well have contributed to the frustration he unleashed at full-time, as he immediately confronted referee Daniele Chiffi and was shown a red card for dissent. The length of his suspension will depend on what the referee includes in his match report.
Zaniolo had already run into trouble on his previous visit to the Olimpico as an Atalanta player in December 2024, when he was booked for an over-the-top celebration after scoring in La Dea’s 2-0 win.
Chef kiss, that was the cherry on the cake!
zaniolo has wasted the career