Empoli’s Davide Nicola: “Baldanzi was given a huge chance, you can’t clip the wings of players like him.” | OneFootball

Following his side’s 0-0 draw against Genoa, Empoli boss Davide Nicola was asked to elaborate on the club’s decision to sell highly-rated youngster Tommaso Baldanzi to Roma earlier this week.

Baldanzi joined the Giallorossi in the final hours of the winter transfer window after the club agreed to pay the Tuscans a fee worth €15 million plus a 15% sell-on clause. Although Nicola admits they preferred to keep the youngster until the end of the season, the club couldn’t deny him the opportunity to join a big club.

“Very simply and honestly: it’s impossible to clip the wings of a player like Baldanzi, who was given an important opportunity,” Nicola told Sky Sport.

“We’re all happy for him and everything he’s done for Empoli. He’s an intelligent and virtuous lad, the most important thing to him above all is the team.”

Adding, “As for us, his departure doesn’t change what’s required of us. We need to make the players perform at their best and this is what we’re working towards. Our football and way of playing can’t change based on whether or not Baldanzi is here. We still have important attacking players.”