Newcastle United are reported to be interested in signing 19-year-old Italy U21 midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo who has played at Roma since last summer.
Reports coming out of Italy say that Newcastle United scouts have been watching the left-footed attacking midfielder who is one of the top young talents in Italian football.
Zaniolo joined Roma from Inter last summer in a swap deal involving former Newcastle left-back and the 19-year-old – for Radja Nainggolan.
However, with his excellent form this season for Roma, there have been questions about how the Milan club only valued Zaniolo at €4.5M in that deal that saw him leave Milan.
19-year-old Roma 6ft 3ins attacking midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo
But it’s too late now with the teenager looking like an excellent prospect at Roma.
The 6ft 3ins tall (it’s those hamburgers I tell you) midfield player has played 27 games in total for Roma this season and has scored 5 goals and has 2 assists.
He’s a top teenager, and the type of younger Newcastle should be trying to sign this summer – if we can get him.
But why would Roma sell him this summer – well – except for a very high transfer fee?
Nicolo Zaniolo never played for the Inter-Milan first team, and he has played for the Italy U18, U19, and 4 times for the U21 side.
He made his debut for the Italy U21 team only last October, in a friendly match against Belgium.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
149 comments so far
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:34 PM
Comment #81Hi Simon do you have a link mate? Like Ronaldo it’s a bit of a surprise to me, though if he’s getting a promotion it’s certainly deserved.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:35 PM
Comment #82Well said Rob @79. Possibly you should run for a seat in Parliament.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:36 PM
Comment #83Rob
Just put #nufc on the end of your post and it turns a political post into an nufc post 😉
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:37 PM
Comment #84Dawson is getting a promotion, to the first team manager position when Benitez leaves!
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:39 PM
Comment #85Geordie two
Yeah pretty much seems to be the case and not surprising. I’ve always thought this is Benitez last season. Just wish and hope I’m wrong. There have been positive signs and reasons though that it’s possible to stay but I don’t see him wanting to get shafted by the owner again for another year or two.
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:44 PM
Comment #86Ronaldo that article is full of detail but much of it is inaccurate. The loans being a hangover from the takeover for example is pure Ashley propaganda.
If Toon22 is keen to find something with Keith bishop’s fingerprints all over he’ll not have to look much further than that steaming pile of ordure.
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:45 PM
Comment #87Online Guy
You know what, I’d never heard of or heard Vashti Bunyan before you posted her name. Born in Newcastle as well – albeit taken darn sarf as a babe.
Checked her Wiki listing and she’s been around the block a bit – moving in high places on both sides of the Atlantic. I’ll see if I can get a copy of the album you mentioned. That’s life, we live and learn.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:45 PM
Comment #88Martoon
Took your advice and registered with times.
Won’t bother posting the article here though, I pretty much did with the stats involved earlier today.
carltoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:46 PM
Comment #89Under 18 manager leaving at the end of the season. Harper staying but part time Ireland coach.
Ron Knee
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:47 PM
Comment #90Two minutes to decide if Sterling was offside?
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:49 PM
Comment #91Lol Ronaldo
#nufc
Too late?
😉
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:50 PM
Comment #92Dave Watson
https://twitter.com/lee_ryder/status/1104028565631311874
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:52 PM
Comment #93So not Ben Dawson then?
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:53 PM
Comment #94Rob
Yeah I didn’t take too much into it regarding finances, more a case of returning (if we ever really left) the policy Ashley has wanted on transfers throughout his ownership. if I’m not mistaken, hardy is quite close to Rafa and Newcastle so it’s worth keeping it in mind because if that’s the case and Rafa isn’t allowed to make experienced signings then yeah, Rafa is gone.
I actually think the buy low sell high is a policy that can work. It does across Europe, but it’s greatee than just the transfer side of it that Ashley just doesn’t understand or wants to acknowledge and address.
carltoon
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:57 PM
Comment #95Dave Watson old Everton player been Under 18 Coach for years. Think they will revamp the coaching department. It’s needed
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:57 PM
Comment #96VAR hell how long would the game of gone on Saturday
Penalty decisions, Pickford, Offside Goals
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:00 PM
Comment #97Online
I found a used cd copy of Just Another Diamond Day – it’d better be the gem you say it is otherwise I’ll be up there and string you up on Elsdon Gibbet!
Geordie 2
Real Smog and his head-banging chums are pushing to send an expeditionary force into Europe to have a go at the Bosch and then evacuating Dunkirk again! Those were the days, the blitz, food rationing, oh yes……. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer – but there was no immigration!
simon376
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:03 PM
Comment #98Can’t find anything about Ben Dawson, thought I had seen something yesterday or day before, maybe I was wrong
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:04 PM
Comment #99Whoops
@97…… Forgot to add Howay the lads, Ashley oot, Rafa stay…….
Phew!
Ron Knee
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:04 PM
Comment #100lesh #nufc
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:19 PM
Comment #101It’s catching on 😉
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:20 PM
Comment #102We have actually reached a stage with the squad that we could afford to start buying some young foreign players into the premiership to give us some pace and quality at maybe better prices than players with premiership experience?
We have Rafa to coach them and also a very experienced squad with leaders so its not like they would be getting dropped into the deep end like under previous “coaches”!
If only Ashley would realise that having a few experienced heads would actually bring the younger players making them worth more in the long run!
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:24 PM
Comment #103ronaldo, I agree it can work as a policy as long as it’s well managed. If it’s not you end up tearing the heart out of the team every two seasons with relegations a certainty. You also end up with a certain amount of dead wood hanging round the club, as certain players fail to live up to their promise. Then you have the mercenaries treating our club like a stepping stone and becoming unsettled when they don’t get to move when they think it’s their time, like Cabaye and Sissoko.
It’s taken Rafa 3 years to sort out the mess that we were in and it will require him to be fully bought in and in control of the process to make sure we don’t get into a similar mess again.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:28 PM
Comment #104For me, what doesn’t work with the purely for sell on players is a couple of things. Firstly if you are signing players on five year deals then selling them as soon as an offer comes in, it means the ones you aren’t selling aren’t very good. You also have the players who’ve come solely to put themselves in the window not giving a foot about the shirt like Janmatt and those that the club try and keep on to a bit longer like Sissoko and Cabaye who go on strike or continually harp on about moving to a bigger club. I’d say Rafa blocked the move for those two players because although they might have put a few quid in Mikey’s pocket they might not have had the right temperament. These type of players have had us in a continuous relegation battle because we’ve had crap managers who’d accept these type of players.
Ron Knee
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:28 PM
Comment #105“Manchester City have now scored 124 Champions League goals, one more than Cristiano Ronaldo.” #nufc
Jail for Ashley
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:29 PM
Comment #106*means the ones you aren’t selling aren’t very good so eventually end up with s team that is largely crap.
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:31 PM
Comment #107I think the other thing which needs to happen to make that a successful policy is for the money raised to be reinvested. This is something which is not certain under Ashley.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:33 PM
Comment #108@Robleenio
Oh but it does get invested…. into MASH holdings where it disappears every season!!
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:34 PM
Comment #109😉
jane
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:39 PM
Comment #110see Rolando Aarons scored his first goal for Shef Wed tonight, his first goal since May 2016 and 3rd goal ever.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:41 PM
Comment #111jane,
Could you say something interesting that involves an opinion, for like the first time ever!!!
Nicky the ball tosser
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:42 PM
Comment #112The transfer policy has merit but obviously needs tweaking. At the end of the it’s all about having the correct depth, balance and quality, as well as being sustainable. We’ve made a lot of great signings under Ashley, but we’ve noticeably carried a lot of deadwood too and been less competitive than we’ve needed to be and rarely as competitive as we should be.
Young players before they’ve popped, experienced players coming to the end of their deals, all good, but they must be very well scouted and they must be in the right positions.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 12, 2019 at 9:48 PM
Comment #113Aarons does seem to be doing well at Sheffield Wednesday could the penny finally have dropped for him?
5 games in a row for him with a few assists and now a goal show growing confidence! Even if he didn’t come back here to stake a claim next season we may be able to get a decent transfer fee…..
Fully fit though he always did offer a goal threat which is something Murphy and Atsu don’t offer whether its a confidence thing I am not sure but Aarons is always capable of a long ranger
Jail for Ashley
Mar 12, 2019 at 10:08 PM
Comment #114I don’t mind seeing Man City win, it just saddens me that it could have easily been us.
jane
Mar 12, 2019 at 10:18 PM
Comment #115“Could you say something interesting that involves an opinion”
i might not have scored a goal but i provided an assist.
Nicky the ball tosser
Mar 12, 2019 at 10:22 PM
Comment #116The first time I saw Aarons was in a reserve game on the NUFC channel and I immediately thought he had more than enough quality to make it. He was easily the best player on the pitch. Fast and skillful, athletic, good delivery and finish.
He’s had trouble with injury, but I think he’s also struggled to fully grasp the mechanics of the actual job of being a top pro. The nuts and bolts of being part of a top side that is so fundamental for a pro career at a good level. The consistent graft and correct decision making, when the side is in possession and not has been slow in coming. If he is finally grasping that at Wednesday, then there is still the chance he can do it for us in the EPL.
Nicky the ball tosser
Mar 12, 2019 at 10:35 PM
Comment #117I don’t want the club to be owned by anyone that wants anything more or less than the club to punch above its natural weight and do it sustainably. I’d take that over the Mansours without even blinking.
Online Guy
Mar 12, 2019 at 10:40 PM
Comment #118Lesh
She was one that disappeared from view after 1970 as far as her music mattered…not enough exposure . She took time out and has only just resurfaced musically speaking.
Her first Album is a gem ..aptly named .
I’m going to have search and see if Iv got any rare live boots.
She is living in Edinburgh . Jog along Bess is all about the trip to Donovans hippie commune in the oOuter Hebridies, Western Isles.
She’s a Newcastle fan so there’s some football content wor Jail.
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 10:54 PM
Comment #119Ron Knee
Thanks for the #nufc tip. I really must remember.
RobLeenio
That Hardy article’s clearly written as a means of Ashley setting out his negotiating position and it’s a sad state of affairs when he hasn’t got the balls to talk to Rafa face-to-face.
As you say, there’s nothing wrong with the idea of buying players as an investment but what Ashley clearly doesn’t or won’t acknowledge is that Arsenal’s squad is established and strong with clear succession plans in place – a policy they’ve worked on over years but Ashley wants it too early. Give Rafa a chance to build! The squad Rafa’s got isn’t strong enough to even get the club established among the top six-eight in the Prem. Surely the time to introduce the buy to sell policy is when the club’s foundations are strong and what will it take to get Ashley to see that.
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 11:04 PM
Comment #120Online
So Ms Bunyan’s up in Edinburgh and no doubt fraternising with some of the old guard who’ve hung their instruments up there.
Donovan Leitch, I remember well. He was involved in an anti Polaris march that trecked from Glasgow to London carrying a replica missile. It passed through Newcastle and the archers kipper over in the then CND/ Committee of 100 base in the old ILP hall on Shields Road, Byker. The Raby was just about opposite and its regulars were a bit taken aback with the long-haired, scruffy, smelly beer swilling folk-singing specimens that’d entertained them. A couple of the marchers liked Newcastle so much (or they were too pi$$Ed to move) they stayed a while.
#nufc.
🙂