After joining Galatasaray last month, Nicolo Zaniolo criticised Roma for making “unfulfilled promises” and treating him like a “capital gain.”
Early in February, Zaniolo departed the Eternal City giants to sign with the Turkish Super Lig leaders for a sum of €16.5 million.
The Italian midfielder was reportedly interested in a deal to Bournemouth during the January transfer window, but he declined the offer.
After being left out in the cold at Roma, Zaniolo signed a four-year contract with Galatasaray. However, the 23-year-old has blamed his previous team for the manner he was handled.
He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: “I could talk for hours about unfulfilled promises. They [Roma] told me I was a spearhead, instead I’ve always been considered just a capital gain.
“For two years I was told that the new contract was ready. In January of last year I would have signed for slightly more than what I was earning, because I was fine in Rome and I knew there were problems with Financial Fair Play. After much talk I’m bored. If I have to reflect on my farewell, I think others must do it too.”
The accusation of being a traitor upset Zaniolo.
He added: “It’s something I’m very sorry about. Roma gave me everything, thanks to Roma I won and I made my debut for the national team, my son was born there. Being labelled that way was a big blow.”
Zaniolo continued: “The truth will come out. I’m just saying that I’ve always trained, even if not with the others.”
There has been much talk about Zaniolo and Jose Mourinho’s alleged falling out, but the playmaker is OK with the Roma head coach.
“He’s a great coach and a great person,” Zaniolo said of his old boss. “He made me play almost always. Sure, he’s used to managing star players and I wasn’t [one]. I would have liked to have him in four or five years, but he gave me so much anyway.”
