Zaniolo discusses recovery, future, his favourite game and more

On Tuesday morning Gazetta dello Sport released a long interview with Nicolo Zaniolo.

The attacking midfielder, currently recovering from a serious knee injury, spoke with Walter Veltroni – the former Mayor of Rome who is also known as one of the country’s most notable figures in journalism.

Here’s a summary of what the two discussed…

Zaniolo’s journey to Rome

“I think Inter always have this need for players that are ready, that are fully developed and perhaps at the time I wasn’t that. Those were the choices they made - but I am thankful for that because, by letting me join Roma, I moved to an amazing city and to a well-organised club.

"Playing here is amazing; for the fans and for the city. I’m extremely happy to wear yellow and red.”

His debut for Roma

“My real debut came the day I arrived in Rome. The first day I came to Trigoria it was amazing, because I met all these amazing players – De Rossi, Kolarov, Dzeko, Pastore – which, considering a year earlier I had been play ing the Primavera, was just so incredibly exciting. And then a bit after came that great day, one that I never expected: making my debut at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League.

"At 11 in the morning we had a meeting with coach [Eusebio] Di Francesco and afterwards he stopped me and said: ‘Are you ready to play this evening?’ And I said to him: ‘Yes’. But it was a ‘yes’ said out of instinct. After saying it I started to shake a bit. I was in my room until 19:45, when the coach left for the stadium. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t relax. I was tense – I didn’t even call my parents. I was petrified.

"Making my professional debut against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu was a great honour. But I have to thank my teammates, for putting me at ease from the start. When I went out there the only thing that existed was that pitch, that stadium. I didn’t think of anything beyond that and in the end it went well.”

The injury recovery

"I’m not worried, I’m recovering well. I go to Trigoria every day, after the last visit to Innsbruck [to see the surgeon] now I can increase the workload. When both legs are as strong as each other and my head is right, then I will come back. I have my whole career ahead of me – I don’t need to push things, just for the sake of playing two or three games more. The bigger picture is the future, my career.”

Paulo Fonseca

"The coach is decisive, really good – he’s well prepared and he’s doing a good job. He has a lot of integrity as a person – he tells you things to your face. That’s the case with both good and bad, and I really admire that. He and his staff are really smart and prepare games well. I think he’s a great coach.”

The game that means the most to him

"Roma-Porto – my first goals in the Champions League. It was an indescribable feeling – to score in a full stadium and hear them chant your name. I did not sleep for two or three days afterwards, I was in a daze. I couldn’t believe what I had done.”

His future

"I’m really happy in Rome, I’m at a great club. I feel really good, the fans love me and I love them. The club backs me and I am not thinking about making any changes. There’s no reason to.”