Nicolo Zaniolo has left Roma to join Turkish Giants Galatasaray.
After a falling out with manager Jose Mourinho, the 23-year-old was anticipated to depart the Giallorossi during the January transfer window, but he held off on a move to Premier League team Bournemouth.
Zaniolo’s continued presence at the club was referred to by Mourinho as “unfortunate,” but his time in the Eternal City has officially come to an end.
Istanbul’s Galatasaray is said to have paid Roma €16.5 million to sign Italy’s 11-time international Zaniolo to a four-and-a-half-year contract while Turkish clubs are still permitted to conduct transfer business.
In a farewell message to Roma, Tuscany-born Zaniolo posted on Instagram: “You welcomed me as if I were at home.
“You made me grow, you gave me a chance that I tried to take with all my heart, always honouring the history you represent, fighting for your colours, sweating for the jersey every time I wore it.
“Now that we’ve said goodbye, I want to tell you one thing… It was an honour.”
In 2018, Zaniolo transferred from Serie A rival Inter to Roma, where he amassed 24 goals in 128 games.
Due to knee ailments, he missed the second part of the 2019–20 season as well as the whole 2020–21 season.
