Roma have accused Nicolò Zaniolo, on loan at Fiorentina from Galatasaray, of punching two youth team players during a dressing room bust-up.
The incident allegedly happened after Fiorentina beat Roma at the Viola Park ground during the semi-final of the Primavera youth league Scudetto play-offs on Monday, May 26.
The club released a formal statement on its website about the situation.
“AS Roma announces that, following today’s match, a regrettable incident occurred involving player Nicolò Zaniolo.
“According to initial reconstructions, the player allegedly entered the Primavera team’s dressing room after the match and engaged in provocative behavior towards some of the Giallorossi youth players.
During the confrontation, two players from the Primavera squad were reportedly physically struck.
“AS Roma cannot but firmly condemn any form of aggressive conduct or behavior that does not align with the values of sport.”
He was watching from the stands and cheering on his current club as they made their way to the title decider, but there were already problems with Fiorentina fans hurling insults at the Giallorossi.
According to Sportitalia, Zaniolo was not authorised to be in the dressing rooms, but he went in anyway and got into an argument with several Roma players.
The situation escalated and became physical, with Zaniolo accused of punching two of the teenage Roma players.
Fiorentina then released their own official statement with Zaniolo’s version of events.
“At the end of the match, I went into the locker room to congratulate the Fiorentina lads, then passed through the Roma room to salute and compliment them on their season.
“However, at a certain point they started to insult me, so at that stage, to avoid the situation degenerating, I preferred to simply leave.”
He had initially shot to fame at Roma before demanding a transfer in January 2023.
He was sold to Galatasaray, followed by unsuccessful loan experiences at Aston Villa, Atalanta, and Fiorentina, but none of these clubs were prepared to buy him outright.
Zaniolo begun his football career at Fiorentina’s youth system before being released and joining Virtus Entella. He made his professional debut for the Entella Primavera side in Serie B in 2017.
Zaniolo then secured a move to Inter Milan, where he played one season before joining Roma. It was here that he broke through as one of the most exciting young talents in Italy, even winning the Serie A Young Player of the Year award in 2018-19.