While Aston Villa aims for Champions League qualifying, Nicolo Zaniolo is adamant about getting a spot in Unai Emery’s starting lineup.
As per the statement made by his representative, Claudio Vigorelli, the 24-year-old’s season at Villa Park, where he arrived on loan from Galatasaray, has been discussed. This season, the Italy international has mostly played off the bench for his team and has found it difficult to perform at his best in the Premier League.
Zaniolo is keen to close the season strong and guarantee a spot on the Italy squad for the 2024 European Championship with just eight league games remaining. Vigorelli remarked, “To Gianluca Di Marzio:”
“Nicolo strongly wants to go to the European Championship in the summer. He’s muscling his way into the Aston Villa squad, where the competition is very tough.
“He really wanted to play in the Premier League and is trying to carve out a leading role for himself, he still has several months to establish himself.
“His experience in England and the previous one at Galatasaray are making him grow as a player and as a man. We’re talking a lot, I can tell he’s excited and motivated.”
Emery meanwhile, added:
“I am very happy with him. Now is his moment because at the beginning of the season it was very difficult for him. The adaptation was tough, some individual circumstances were really difficult for him.
“We were here always to try and support him. His performances as well when he was playing, helping our way and in our structure we are building was not being like he was expecting or we were expecting. The last two months, something has changed of him.
“He is getting better for us. The last matches he is playing more, getting better performances as well. Now, we will need him and hopefully he can keep the same performances and the same ambition he is showing us. He is really wishing now to help the team and hopefully this won’t stop until the end of the season.”