Supporters surrounded his house
Tottenham and Bournemouth target Nicolo Zaniolo failed to turn up for training at Roma today after police were called to his house.
Zaniolo has been the subject of transfer interest after José Mourinho deemed him surplus to requirements and Roma had agreed a deal with relegation-threatened Bournemouth – only for the Italian to turn it down at the eleventh hour.
Mourinho also seemed to confirm that he would remain at the Stadio Olimpico beyond Tuesday’s deadline, saying: “Unfortunately he will be staying”
As a result, fans of the Serie A side have lose their cool and made their feelings known to the 23-year-old, placing banners outside the city’s colosseum and the club’s Trigoria training complex.
A banner on a bridge outside of Rome’s colosseum read “Zaniolo betrayer and s**t without honour” and graffiti was left on a wall at the club’s training ground with a similar insult while calling his mother “a b****”.
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Police called to house of Nicolo Zaniolo
Leading Italian news agency ANSA also reported that police were called to Nicolo Zaniolo’s house after Roma’s 2-1 defeat away at Napoli – which he missed – at 1:30am in the morning, where supporters were heard calling him a “piece of s**t.”
The winger subsequently locked himself in Casal Palocco villa, where abuse continued way into the night. Roma have condemned the incident, via ANSA, and reportedly contacted the player before phoning the police. Zaniolo has also removed ‘player of Roma’ from his social media bio.
Both his mother and sister commented on the banners, with the former saying: “All this hatred seems a little over the top,” while his sister wrote: “No words needed. Just so sorry for you.”
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