Zaniolo: ‘I will represent Italy at big tournament one day’ | OneFootball

Nicolò Zaniolo confirms he must ‘give up on the dream of representing Italy’ in EURO 2024, but ‘that day will come’ after his Aston Villa injury.

The forward made only a cameo appearance in the Premier League against Liverpool on Monday, although he was on the field long enough to suffer a microfracture in his foot.

That means his season is already over, he is expected to return to Galatasaray at the end of the loan and will not be able to play for Italy at EURO 2024 from June 14 to July 14.

“Thank you to you ‘Villans’ and the many Italian and Turkish fans for being by my side,” wrote Zaniolo on Instagram.

“I can’t wait to get back on the field stronger than every!

“Unfortunately, I have to give up on my dream of representing my country in a big competition. But that day will come, I am certain of it, and it will be wonderful!

“Forza Azzurri!”

Zaniolo also missed EURO 2020

It is a bitter blow for Zaniolo, who had already been forced to pull out of the EURO 2020 squad due to an injury, watching his Italy teammates go on to lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium.

Despite barely featuring for Aston Villa during the loan spell, he was still expected to be in the travelling party going to Germany this summer.

Coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed today that he had spoken to the player and could “exclude” any possibility of a lightning recovery in time for the tournament.