Fiorentina, Zaniolo: "Happy to be home. The Champions League is a dream, Kean is a brother"

Florence, 7 February 2025 - Presentation day at Fiorentina. From the Media Center of Viola Park he spoke Nicolo Zaniolo, who arrived in the winter transfer window. "This part of the journey is very important. I arrive with a solid background after having been abroad. I want to thank everyone, the Director, my teammates and the President. Coming back here is a great emotion, I know almost everyone. It was like coming home."

Do you want to shake off the label of those who say 'Zaniolo has no head'?

“I have never had any problems with anyone wherever I have gone. I know what I am worth and the important thing is that those who love me know it too. I will leave the rest up to you.”  

Did you hear from Kean before coming here?

“I heard the coach's words, and he's right: I was convinced that this was the best step for me. As for Moise, he's like a brother. I'm happy with what he's doing and I think he can do even more. I have to think about making myself available to the team, then we'll see”.  

What happened in 2016?

"It happened that the club preferred to make other choices. It was my luck, because here I was closed, while at Entella I was able to demonstrate my real value."  

Could his European experience be important?

"The Conference is a European competition where reaching the end is not a given, it is a tortuous path. However, our team is important, we will be ready".  

Gasperini complained about his celebrations…

“The beautiful thing about a player is the joy of scoring a goal, of experiencing the celebration without disrespecting anyone. I will always celebrate in a civil, normal way.”  

Why did you choose Florence?

“In June I was undecided between Atalanta and Fiorentina. At that time I had chosen Bergamo. In January, due to the strong interest of the Viola, I chose based on the interest shown in me and the fact that I didn't play much there”.  

It is said that the relationship with Gasperini was complicated…

“Mister Gasperini helped me a lot, even though I arrived there with a significant delay in my condition. He improved me a lot, even in the way I see football. Then everyone has their own ideas, he preferred other players, but I respect him and thank him”.

Is Florence his revenge?

"No, it's not a question of revenge. I play for Fiorentina and in the direct clash against Atalanta I will play to win on the side of the Viola."  

Is the Champions League objective realistic?

"We are a strong, complete team. Of course the championship is still long, but we must maintain our identity. It would be a dream to reach the Champions League".  

Can Kean also be deputy?

“I started out as a right winger, then I also play left winger, attacking midfielder and striker if the coach requests it. But I started out as a right winger”.  

Of footballers from the past, who inspires you?

“From my years at Fiorentina I remember going to be a ball boy at Franchi and I really appreciated a player like Giuseppe Rossi. But also Jovetic, a formidable footballer”.  

Did you expect a Ranieri like this?

“We've been friends since childhood. I always thought he could go down this path, he was a winner since he was little. He was always eager, determined. We even went to the same middle school, and we took the bus together to come and train at Fiorentina”.  

How much does a dressing room that is so Italian help?

“When you arrive in a dressing room with an Italian base it is much easier to adapt. They are all strong, quality players. There is a lot of competition”.  

What is your relationship with Bove?

“I know Edo because we played together in Rome. He is an extraordinary guy, always ready to give you a hand. Always busy, never a word out of place. We are friends. I am sorry for what happened, I will always be by his side to give him a hand”. One of its qualities and one of its defects?

“Physical strength and 1 vs 1. Weaknesses: weak foot, competitive nastiness and headers”. Do you have any bets in the works with Kean?

"I haven't promised Moise anything, but I will promise him that if I have the chance I will always try to put him in the best way to score." Why the 17th?

“When I arrived in Turkey at Galatasaray there was a terrible earthquake. A few days later the father of a boy who unfortunately died wrote to me and asked if I could take his shirt number, 17.” Do you have any regrets in your career?

“Regrets are the past. I like to live in the present thinking about the future. I have no regrets, because I thought the choices I made were right. I still have a life ahead of me, I'm 25 years old, I can't wait to start playing for this big family”.