Nicolo Zaniolo remembered his first call up to the Italian national team, talked highly of Tammy Abraham and looked ahead to the match against Leicester City.
The 22-year-old Italian forward has had a season filled with ups and downs under Jose Mourinho in Rome, suffering from inconsistency that seems him bounce between wonderful performances and periods of invisibility. His future also remains in doubt and it’s unclear if he’ll be offered a new contract or not.
Speaking to The Athletic, Zaniolo first discussed his reaction to receiving a call up to the Italian national team.
“It was a weekend. We hadn’t played, so I was in La Spezia at a mate’s house, having a pizza. Sky Sports was on and I saw the squad on the breaking-news ticker. I initially thought it was for the under-20s.
“Then I thought there must have been some mistake. A few minutes later, the team manager for the national team called. He said, ‘Come to Coverciano tomorrow. You’re in the senior squad’. I was in disbelief. I just said, ‘Oh boy’.
“I called my papa in tears. He couldn’t believe it. He thought it was a joke. I told him to turn on the TV.
“I remember that there’s a tradition of introducing yourself to everyone when you get into the national team for the first time, I was just a kid and there in front of me were Bonucci, Chiellini, Verratti. Big names.
“The first team meeting was at one but I got there an hour early. I was afraid of being the last person to get there and then having to go up to them all one by one. They maybe didn’t even know who I was.
“That night, the lads who were new to the group had to stand on the dinner table and sing a song. I couldn’t eat a thing. My stomach was tossing and turning.
“Bonucci and Chiellini told me I had to get up and sing after dinner so, of course, I did. I sang J-Ax’s Senza Pagare, which was the summer hit at the time. But my voice kept trembling.
“There was a rondo, with Chiellini in the middle. It was frightening how he kept sliding in and putting his foot in. But I got used to it and the experience just got better and better.”
He then touched on his two serious ACL tears.
“I’d been playing well. I was fit and full of confidence. The first one against Juventus was a big setback but it wasn’t so bad. I was enthusiastic about coming back and was playing again five months later.
“The real blow was the second one because I’d been back for a couple of months. I was playing well again. I’d scored against Brescia and SPAL. I started against Holland. Then boom.”
The Italian forward spoke highly of teammate Tammy Abraham, who arrived from Chelsea last summer.
“He’s a strong, physical striker. He’s got a good shot on him and he’s quick. Tammy’s the whole package. We’re both young and can still improve. He’s a top player.
“He doesn’t just know where the goal is, he’s got the vision to pick out a team-mate. I get on really well with him. He’s a fantastic guy, always up for anything, always smiling. He’s been a great find.”
Finally, Zaniolo discussed the importance of the Roma fans ahead of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Leicester City.
“The passion is unbelievable. The fans live for Roma and we can feel it even if we’re not in contact. We can feel it when they sing Roma, Roma, Roma before the game. It takes you to another level and pumps you up.
“There’s a big difference between playing home and away. We hope it’ll be a full house against Leicester and the fans help us reach the final.”
The 22-year-old Zaniolo has made 36 appearances across all competitions so far this season, for a total of 2522 minutes. In that time, he’s scored seven goals and provided eight assists, finding more success in the Conference League than in Serie A.