Nicolo Zaniolo prepares to leave Aston Villa in Galatasaray transfer update
Nicolo Zaniolo is preparing to leave Aston Villa at the end of the season after the club decided not to extend his stay at Villa Park, according to Aksam.
The Turkish website reported [12 February] that the Italian’s £4.3million loan move from Galatasaray last summer involved an option-to-buy clause, which Villa have chosen not to trigger.
It is understood that the permanent transfer would have earned the Turkish giants a net income of £23.4million after purchasing the forward from Roma in February 2023 in a deal worth £12.8million.
Nicolo Zaniolo’s disappointing spell with Aston Villa
Nobody at Villa Park is under the impression that Zaniolo has been a successful loanee this season, having made just 10 starts in all competitions with two goals.
Galatasaray look to be wanting to get rid of the 24-year-old, and from his six months on loan in the Premier League so far, it is understandable as to why. Put bluntly, he has failed to make the desired impact.
Zaniolo’s last start came in December as Villa drew 1-1 with Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League, which was his only inclusion in Unai Emery’s starting XI since being hooked at half-time against Nottingham Forest in November.
The form of Leon Bailey, plus the prospective talents of Jacob Ramsey, Moussa Diaby and Morgan Rogers, has shoved the Italian down the pecking order at Villa. His attitude also seems to be a problem, based on his body language and temper on the pitch, which could be why Emery has snubbed him in recent weeks.
Although capable of being deployed on either the flank or even up front, there seems to be confusion over which is Zaniolo’s best position, causing more harm to his stay in England.
It is certainly not a deal that has worked out for any of the parties.
In other Aston Villa news, one 85% Villa star shone in the recent win against Sheffield United, with Don Goodman dubbing him “electric.”
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