EXCLUSIVE: Nicolo Zaniolo endured death threats in Rome and Jose Mourinho's harsh tongue, but the...
Daily Mail Nicolo Zaniolo celebrated his birthday in July and probably reflected that he had experienced more in 24 years than many people do in a lifetime.
Aston Villas summer signing was sent death threats and chased through the streets by Roma fans furious at his desire to leave the Serie A club. He has felt the rough end of Jose Mourinhos tongue and suffered two serious knee injuries, the second of which ruled him out of Italys triumphant Euro 2020 campaign.
Impressively, he has also managed to gain a solid grasp of English in just six months, thanks to daily lessons when he was playing for Galatasaray.
Much more importantly, he joined a select group of players to score the winner in a major European Final. Less than 18 months after he struck the only goal for Roma against Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League Final, Zaniolo is starting a new journey in the competition.
The Italy international expects to be involved when Villa take on Legia Warsaw in Poland on Thursday and, as he sits in the cavernous indoor training centre at Villas Bodymoor Heath base, he dreams of reliving his golden moment in Tirana.
