Udinese, Zaniolo: “At Roma I got cocky, here for a fresh start” | OneFootball

Nicolò Zaniolo opens up in an interview with La Repubblica: from past mistakes to his bond with Roma, to the new chapter with Udinese and dreams of the National team.

Udinese, Zaniolo: “In Rome, I got too full of myself. Here to be reborn”

At 26, Nicolò Zaniolo is experiencing what he describes as a true professional and personal rebirth. The Udinese attacking midfielder, interviewed by La Repubblica, shared his current state and the desire to restart after difficult seasons:

“I feel good. I know I made many mistakes in the past, but there's no going back. I focus on today. In Udine, I feel great, living with my girlfriend and my son. Now everything is simpler.”

Past mistakes

Zaniolo does not hide the difficulties he faced during his time at Roma, also marked by excessive media exposure:

“Being the talk of the town at 18, in a city like Rome, is not easy. I was wrong to feel too important, I got too full of myself. Many mistakes stem from that, but today I recognize them and wouldn’t repeat them.”

Leaving Roma

The former Roma player emphasizes how painful it was to leave the capital, a place he still feels is his own:

“Perhaps it wasn’t perceived externally how much I suffered having to leave Roma. It was and remains a club I love, it was hard to part from the club, the city, and the people.”

Role models

Zaniolo reveals who has inspired him in his career and life:

Kakà, a football idol and model on a technical and human level: “I chose the number 22 also because of him.”

His father, a guide and mentor: “I don’t make decisions without consulting him first, even though today my priority remains my son.”

The National team dream

Despite everything, Zaniolo looks forward with the goal of reclaiming the Azzurri jersey:

“Playing for the National team has always been my dream. With that jersey, fans of Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma, and Lazio unite: all for the same faith.”

The last chance

For Zaniolo, the experience with Udinese represents perhaps the last great opportunity to relaunch and prove his worth. A challenge that involves maturity, consistency, and the desire to reclaim the place he dreamed of as a child.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.