Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo appeared on Roma TV today to discuss his contract renewal with the Giallorossi. The youngster signed a new contract with Roma that will keep him at the club until 2024. These are his words:
“My wish was always to stay here. With my agent and the club we have worked hard while looking towards the future and I am very pleased with this contract extension. I hope to continue to progress and help achieve something important with the team this season. Last year I arrived with little fanfare – but I immediately got to work and did everything I could to catch the attention of the coach. Then, after that, I was lucky enough and good enough to get a chance in the team and then keep it. That is my strength: I never give up and I always believe in myself. As soon as I signed [this contract] the directors told me that I had made another important step, now I am an established player and I need to keep my head on my shoulders. It’s vital that I carry myself the right way. We are a young group, a talented group: together we can achieve a lot of things. When I was alone [after signing the contract], the first thing I thought was: ‘Now it’s for real’. I’ve now become a proper professional and so I need to handle myself like one – on the pitch and off it. I need to be professional and set the example for other players my age.”
“Last season was a very exciting one with me, my first season in senior football with so many new experiences. I hope to continue pushing on. It has not always been easy, with all the eyes that have been on me, but that’s the life of a footballer, with its pros and cons, especially at a big club like Roma. I hope to continue playing regularly and doing well, to make the fans happy. To stay at the highest level you need to be humble. You need to have your family behind you, the club backing you and your teammates helping you. I think that I have all of that here and that is very pleasing. I never had even the slightest thought about leaving Roma. I feel good at this club, I’m in love with this city and the passion of the fans – so I never thought about departing. I always strived to earn this renewal and to continue this journey together.”