A former Premier League star has responded after being accused of breaking into the opposition's locker room and attacking two youth players.
The youth sides of AS Roma and Fiorentina met in a Primavera championship semi-final on Sunday, with the latter sealing a spot in the final with a 2-1 victory.
But after the game, Roma put out a statement where they accused former player Nicolo Zaniolo of "provocative behavior" and striking two members of their team in the changing rooms afterwards.
Zaniolo, who spent time on loan at Aston Villa last season, has been with Fiorentina for the second part of the 2024/25 campaign after a short spell with Atalanta.
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He was in attendance for the youth fixture and is understood to have entered both locker rooms afterwards. Roma, who he made 128 appearances for, put out a statement on their official website where they alleged that the 25-year-old was involved in a physical confrontation with two of their youngsters.
AS Roma claim former player attacked two youngsters
"AS Roma announces that, following today’s match, a regrettable incident occurred involving player Nicolo Zaniolo," an official statement from the club read.
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."
The Italian side have since released a new statement, claiming both players involved in the incident were taken to hospital.
Their statement read: "Upon a thorough investigation of the facts, AS Roma has the following updated response.
"On the evening of May 26, following the Primavera semi-final match Fiorentina vs AS Roma at Viola Park, Nicolò Zaniolo (Fiorentina first team) unlawfully entered the Roma dressing room area accompanied by an associate, despite lacking accreditation.
"Witnesses report Zaniolo appeared visibly intoxicated. He urinated in Roma facilities, provoked players, and, without verbal exchange, physically struck Mattia Almaviva and violently pushed Marco Litti against a bench. Litti had recently undergone shoulder surgery. Both players required hospitalisation: Almaviva received a 10-day recovery prognosis, Litti 21 days."
AS Roma stands firmly by its youth players and is appalled by the violent and unjustifiable behavior witnessed at Viola Park. We trust that the institutions will act decisively to ensure accountability and protect the values of Italian football."
Fiorentina respond as Zaniolo gives his version of events
However, the 2018/19 Serie A Young Player of the Year gave his version of events through a statement released on the Fiorentina website on Sunday evening, denying that no such altercation took place after claiming he left after being insulted.
Zaniolo said: "At the end of the match I went down to the locker room to congratulate the Fiorentina boys and then I went to the Roma locker room to say hello and congratulate them on the season, but at a certain point they started insulting me so, at that point, to avoid the situation degenerating, I preferred to leave."
Zaniolo, who has played 19 times for Italy, saw his progress stunted by two ACL injuries a few years back but recovered and scored the winner in the Conference League final for Jose Mourinho's Roma in 2022.
He went on to win the league with Galatasaray, who are still his parent club after his 2022 move.
Fiorentina have the option to buy Zaniolo permanently following his 13 appearances from January onwards.
Topics: Premier League, Serie A, Italy
Josh Lawless