Italy, Zaniolo:”Great to practice next to champions I watched on TV”

While Niccolo’ Zaniolo has yet to appear in a Serie A match, he has already been selected to the Azzurri’s senior squad. The Roma midfielder has been a key player for Italy’s Under 19 squad in the past, and now Roberto Mancini is starting to integrate him in his group, today Zaniolo talked about this recent development from the retreat in Coverciano: “The selection? I’m surprised and enthused. I didn’t expect it, I’m being honest. When I found out about it I almost started to cry, while my father literally cried

“ It was a great satisfaction and emotion, I hope to pay back the manager’s confidence. What are my expectations? It’s great to be here, the Under 19 helped me a lot, I don’t have any expectations. I always practiced well day by day, I believed in my dream and got here, now I have to prove what the coach saw in me. Training with some great champions is something incredible when I think that just four years ago I was watching them on television. What changes from youth football to the pros? The rhythm, you have to practice more intensely”