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
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:17 PM
Comment #41I think we need a plan going forward. Do we counter-penetrate Mossad? If so who do we send over there to do it? I’m not available, errm still working on my backhand….
Nostradamus the Geordie
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:17 PM
Comment #42Was going to ask this question on the weekend but after the game was way to happy and forgot to ask.
I watched all games Miggy has played in for Newcastle and get the feeling that Ritchie just does not want to pass to him unless he’s forced too.
It’s like Miggy is going to take away what little limelight Ritchie thinks he has.
Just wondering if anyone else see’s this?
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:24 PM
Comment #43I’m not sure yet Nostro. It’s a small sample size. Maybe Ritchie’s trying not to become predictable. Miggy is still getting the ball quite a bit and in interesting positions. We shall see.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:25 PM
Comment #44Also I think their first date didn’t go well….
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:28 PM
Comment #45So to summarize today’s activities: no Scottish refs, more thought needed on the penetration front, and Brexit looks a bit dicey. Very productive lads!
Bobbybee
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:32 PM
Comment #46Nostradamus, no, just you. Keep saying to my mate at the game that Ritchie seems to dislike Almiron for some reason because despite Miggy making run after run off the ball, Ritchie just looks the other way or goes backwards. Very strange.
Bobbybee
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:32 PM
Comment #47Not just you ffs.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:37 PM
Comment #48It will be interesting to see if Rafa notices it.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #49Apparently Rafa has noticed that Sorensen is not getting game time at Blackpool and isn’t happy.
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Comment #50Mikey boy’s heard about Real-Smog making £7m from his investment form’s dealings on the back of Brexit. He’s not the only advocate to be making money on the back of it.
Mikey’s thinking about opening NUFC subsidiaries in Eire and Luxembourg – like what Real Smog’s done!
Meanwhile, in Swindon and other parts of the country…….. people are and will lose their jobs.
However, we’ve at least got Rafa to maintain some dignity and set standards.
lesh
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:02 PM
Comment #51GeordieTwo
Too right Rafa’s not happy over Sorrensen’s lack of game time and he pointed stated that the loan deal was negotiated and agreed by Ben Dawson…… Did I read that Dawson’s moving on?
lochinvar
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:03 PM
Comment #52GeordieTwo
That’s an understatement
Raf’s effing furious with Blackpool
Sorenson has I think seen about 32minutes on the pitch over maybe 7 games and isn’t even on their bench now.
Spends most of his time building sandcastles on the beach but he could do that at Shields in between playing FIFA the Under23’s or getting on the bench for the first team.
lochinvar
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:04 PM
Comment #53Lesh
Yes
Dawson’s on his way out
Online Guy
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:13 PM
Comment #54Lesh,
Here’s Someone who let her career wane and possibly lost it through changing times and lax management
https://youtu.be/sYpccdzBvuE.
Online Guy
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:18 PM
Comment #55Vashti , a descendant of John Bunyan .
Her Album Diamond day is something of a diamond and one that the music world seemed to have missed .
And would you believe it, she’s a Geordie !
Now not a lot of people know that.
From Newcastle.
Toonces
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:20 PM
Comment #56Giimps @ 30
In regards to the point you are raising about VAR, my take on VAR is this – without VAR the referees can always fall back on the excuse (whether true or not) that they didn’t see something. But with VAR they won’t have that excuse, and should the VAR officials still not see things that the TV cameras show the world, it will be easier to expose them for bias. That’s my theory at least 🙂
Tsunki
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:27 PM
Comment #57“Jib
Mar 12, 2019 at 5:03 PM
Comment #38
“giimps
i think some of the refs have definitely been penetrated”
I had a brilliant pic to post for that
Unfortunately it would have resulted in an instant ban
?”
How many snaps have you got in that family album jibster? 😀
Tsunki
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:28 PM
Comment #58I’ve a feeling VAR will do little more than enhance frustration at refereeing decisions.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:48 PM
Comment #59I was a bit undecided as to whether to watch Vashti Bunyon or how battleship guns work… maybe that’s been Vashti’s problem all along….
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:49 PM
Comment #60Yep, a real schmozzle with Sorensen. Have to get that sorted quickly.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:51 PM
Comment #61And at least VAR will be more popular than VAT…
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 6:58 PM
Comment #62Final word on Lori Loughlin: not bad for 54…
sing in the corner
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:12 PM
Comment #63I think, hope, we’re gonna see the positive effect of competition for places when it comes to the Shelvey situation. Personally I reckon he’s super motivated now, and we are going to see Shelvey+ when he reaches fitness..
Like Cyprus alluded to earlier, I’m holding my breath when there’s a bit of niggle or a 50/50 in his vicinity.
Several months of pent-up frustration in him. It was threatening to boil over n the few mins he had at the weekend.
lochinvar
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:19 PM
Comment #64Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham manager’s ‘aggressive’ actions the reason for two-match ban
That’ll be Silva in the dog house as well then
Nicky the ball tosser
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:28 PM
Comment #65Good forwards make runs all day long to drag their markers around and this, of course, makes space for others to exploit as well as themselves. They want the ball but it isn’t always the best option to give it to them. The important thing is that Almiron is full of running. I think Ritchie’s distribution is very good at wing back, and his crossing has also picked up a notch. He gets forward quite well as you’d expect, often into space Almiron and others have created for him and swings over some very penetrating early balls. I think the pair are linking up well, and it’s still of course early doors for their pairing.
9
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:29 PM
Comment #66Particularly cunning of the conniving anti-NUFC ref mafia to throw unsuspecting innocent spectators off the scent by awarding us a winning goal while 5 (get that – half of the entire outfield – 5) of our players are clearly and unambiguously offside. Cunning, that.
Nicky the ball tosser
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:32 PM
Comment #67Maybe Blackpool wasn’t the right move for Sorensen, maybe he hasn’t done enough. They of course will simply pick their best 11.
Tsunki
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:46 PM
Comment #68The ref would have been looking for the assistant to let him know if it was offside. And if the assistant was distracted, confused, swatting a wasp or removing the remnants of a Balti pie from his hair at the crucial moment he’d have been no help. So they might still be part of a conspiracy, but just inept.
Tsunki
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:50 PM
Comment #69Blackpool was never the right move for Sorenson. A club embroiled in an ex convicts bitterly antagonistic showdown with his customers and former “business partner” from *ahem* Kraplakistan or wherever was bound to have the right ingredients for a failed club and a churn of dismayed managers – crazy decision to entertain it really. Plus I very much doubt there is anywhere in Blackpool with the technical expertise to rectify the young lads vicious pudding bowl haircut.
lochinvar
Mar 12, 2019 at 7:56 PM
Comment #70Why couldn’t Sorenson go to Brunton Park and help Carlisle United go up and have derby games against the Mackems next season.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:21 PM
Comment #71So the Brexit deal was defeated again. I’m getting quite worried about you lot.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:23 PM
Comment #72Here are the 3 alternatives I see ahead: 1. a new referendum and you stay in Europe 2. carry on being silly like this and invite disaster 3. invade Poland…
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:24 PM
Comment #73Is Ben Dawson really moving on? If be surprised if the club were letting him go he seems to have been nothing but positive for the academy over the last eighteen months.
I did read Steve Harper was moving on to work with the Irish national team are people getting confused between the two? I know that’s unlikely.
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:24 PM
Comment #74The timing is right. The ground is still frozen for the tanks you see.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:27 PM
Comment #75Thoughts on this, latest article by Martin Hardy on Ashley staying, the transfer policy and Benitez.
https://offthepitch.com/a/ashley-wants-execute-strategy-buying-young-talents-and-benitez-must-agree
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:28 PM
Comment #76Where is this talk of Dawson being moved on, first time I have heard or read this.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:29 PM
Comment #77This part is interesting too from the Hardy article. “Newcastle tried to sign two young players last summer in potentially record-breaking deals, and both were blocked by the former Real Madrid manager.”
simon376
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:30 PM
Comment #78Rob, I’ve read that Dawson is going which I’m amazed that he’s allowed after all he has done unless of course a big promotion elsewhere. As for Harper, yes think he’s going to Northern Ireland, but still able to continue his role with us
RobLeenio
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:31 PM
Comment #79G2 at the risk of getting a telling I’ll make one political post. The whole of Brexit was flawed in the first place, the first referendum was only granted to stop conservative euro sceptics from revolting against David Cameron and it was voted for by people who didn’t truly understand what they were voting for, encouraged by idiots with a vested interest in causing chaos and disharmony.
The best thing we can do is back out of the whole sorry mess and allow our kids to grow up in a forward thinking, multi cultural, progressive society with opportunity across the entirety of Europe, rather than just in our rather wet and vaguely depressing corner of it.
*Ducks
GeordieTwo
Mar 12, 2019 at 8:33 PM
Comment #80Thanks for the link Ronaldo. Same old Ashley. Run the club like a retail crap outlet. No mix of experience and youth. Just be a stopover to bigger clubs. No goal to win anything just make a bigger profit. Same old Ashley then. Kiss Rafa goodbye with that pile of bollocks.