Nicolo Zaniolo is expected to leave Aston Villa at the end of the season, it is claimed.
The Italian arrived at Villa Park on loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray in August and has scored two goals from 27 matches this season. But Zaniolo has struggled for game time in recent weeks having played just over an hour in Villa’s last six matches.
Now, Turkish website Akşam claim that the 24-year-old’s loan will not be made permanent as he ‘couldn’t meet expectations’. It is claimed that he is now ‘preparing to leave’ B6 in the summer with his parent club also expected to cut ties when he returns.
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It is reported that Zaniolo is attracting interest from his native Italy. TuttoMercatoWeb report that AC Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina are interested.
Speaking in November, Zanilo admitted that he needs more time to adapt to his new surroundings at Villa before fans will see the best of him.
“Like everything, when you make a change you need time, he said. “I’m happy because the Premier League is a great championship.
“Aston Villa is a great team. But in any case, I still have to adapt well and better. I have a lot of time ahead and we hope to do it well, I want to show my qualities.”
Zaniolo has been a regular for Italy but national team manager Luciano Spalletti believes he must be taught “self-discipline” to improve as a footballer.
“He’s a very strong footballer,” Spalletti told TG Poste in December. “He has many of the qualities that are needed to become a top footballer. We need to teach him to self-discipline, helping him in his profession.
“(Zaniolo) just needs to learn behaviours that will help him be better at what he does, and be disciplined. He needs to cope with the talent he has been given. He must live with his own quality, and strive every day to improve himself.”
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