Zaniolo will take time to settle on preferred role

On Thursday morning DAZN released a long video interview with the playmaker, as the Italy international explained his rapid rise since making his debut for the Giallorossi at the start of the 2018-19 season.

Since then the youngster has gone on to establish himself for the Giallorossi, score a handful of outstanding goals, and even made his international debut – although he doesn’t want the rise to end there.

“Every day I think about training hard, having fun and making Roma fans proud – because they deserve so much,” Zaniolo said.

“I never look back at what I’ve done, only forward.”

We’ve collected a few of the other key quotes from the interview.

On his natural ability...

“I always knew what I was capable of doing, but I didn’t think that I could do it so soon.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing as a trequartista more, but with my characteristics, I can also play in midfield or on the wing. I still need to grow into my best role, because I am still developing as a player. There are some defects I need to work on, such as improving my weaker foot or choosing the final pass.”

On his struggles in youth football...

“I’ve never been considered someone who was destined to make it, especially in the youth sector. I was always quite small physically and developed later than the other boys, so when Fiorentina told me that I couldn’t stay there anymore, I didn’t get too discouraged.

“I went to Virtus Entella and found more space, along with people who believed in me. I remember sitting at a café with my dad [former professional footballer Igor Zaniolo] and crying, telling him that if I couldn’t get playing time there, I really would have to change sport or at least try to find a different profession.

“I thought maybe I just didn’t have it. My father told me to give everything to the very last week, so I’d have no regrets. I did it and from then on, I never stopped playing.”

On his debut against Real Madrid...

“I had already been told that morning I’d start against Real Madrid. I spent all day staring at the ceiling in my room, incredulous. I felt paralysed. I’d only ever been to the Bernabeu on a stadium tour. When you are in the tunnel, you can’t see the pitch yet, just next to me a wall of white jerseys with people like Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric.

“All you can do in those situations is stay calm and think if the coach is picking you, it’s because he has seen something and believes you deserve it. I tried to give my best and it didn’t go that badly.

On his first Italy call-up...

“The Italy call-up was another surprise. I was out at dinner with friends having a pizza when I saw my name in the squad list and thought immediately it must be some mistake. The news looked the same everywhere, so I started to hope it might be true.

“A call from the team manager confirmed I’d have to be at the Coverciano training camp two days later, so I burst into tears. I called my Mum and Dad, they started crying too. I didn’t sleep for the next two days.

“Once I got to Coverciano, I was like a kid at a fairground. I’m not sure what’s happened to me so far has really sunk in yet, but perhaps that’s the secret to my success, that I just keep going as normal and try to enjoy my football.”

On that first goal against Sassuolo...

“I’d been trying to score for two or three weeks and thought, I can’t get it wrong now. I saw both defenders went to ground, so the only way to get the ball around them was with a chip. It was the most beautiful sensation I have ever felt. I didn’t even know how to celebrate. I thought about taking off my shirt, but then remembered I was already on a yellow card.

“It’s pure instinct when you are in front of the goalkeeper like that, you don’t have time to think. Before that I think I was still a kid to my teammates, but after that goal, I became one of them."