Zaniolo has stirred up Italy: Stormed Roma dressing room, punched opponents

Nicolo Zaniolo, who joined Fiorentina on loan after leaving Roma for Galatasaray, has reportedly made headlines in the Italian press after allegedly attacking young players from his former club.

ALLEGEDLY PUNCHED ROMA YOUTH PLAYERS

According to reports, the incident occurred following a match between Fiorentina U20 and Roma U20, which the home side won 2-1. After the final whistle, Zaniolo is said to have entered the Roma dressing room and punched two members of their U20 squad. The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with widespread criticism directed at Zaniolo for his alleged actions toward the young players.

ROMA ISSUES OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Following the altercation, Roma released an official statement confirming the incident:

“Upon internal review, it has been determined that Nicolo Zaniolo entered the U20 team’s dressing room following the match. He acted provocatively toward some of our youth players. It has also been reported that two members of our U20 squad were physically assaulted during the encounter.”

ZANIOLO: "JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO"

Zaniolo later offered his version of the events in a statement published on Fiorentina’s official website:

"At the end of the match, I went into Fiorentina’s dressing room to congratulate the boys. I then visited the Roma locker room to say hello and offer my congratulations for the season. However, they started insulting me, so I chose to leave in order to prevent things from escalating further."