Juventus name Nicolo Zaniolo as primary target amidst Manchester United interest
According to Italian publications Tuttosport and Calciomercato (h/t Daily Mail Online), Juventus have declared Nicolo Zaniolo as their primary target amidst interest from Manchester United. He is currently plying his trade under Jose Mourinho at AS Roma and has been a shining light for his team in what has been an inconsistent season.
Zaniolo is tied down at I Giallorossi until 2024 and hence, it could be a hefty challenge to get his signature. That is further emphasised by Mourinho’s stance, who is adamant that the attacking midfielder will not leave as long as he is the manager at the club. But that has apparently not stopped the Old Lady, who are preparing an offer for the young playmaker.
However, the Bianconeri would need Champions League qualification alongside the sale of Weston McKennie to raise the required funds. They had previously tried to sign Zaniolo during his days at Inter Milan. Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are also keeping tabs on the situation and would be a threat to Man United in this particular transfer saga.
Juve to cause an issue?
While the Chosen One wants the 22-year-old to stay, club chief Tiago Pinto has taken a different stance, having mentioned that there is no guarantee regarding the player’s future. That could be enough motivation for all the interested parties to try their hand at signing the youngster.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side seems like a big problem for us if we really do want to sign the Roma playmaker. The Serie A side would not require the Italian midfielder to make the journey overseas to a new country while also guaranteeing to fight for trophies on all fronts.
The Reds and Atletico cannot be overlooked in any case as well, even though their degree of interest is unknown at this point. It will be interesting to see how the transfer race turns out in the months ahead and while fans may think that a defensive midfielder is more of a priority, Zaniolo could be a neat little addition to this team.
Even though he is an attacking midfielder, the Seria ace is currently being used on the right flank by the former Man United coach. This versatility could come to use given Mason Greenwood’s indefinite suspension and Zaniolo, a number 10 by trade, would also provide much-needed competition to Bruno Fernandes.
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It remains to be seen whether we really do go all out for the 22-year-old starlet. Only time will give us an answer regarding our pursuit of the Italian international, but it is certainly positive seeing our club linked with yet another talented, attack-minded player.
