Mum says Roma midfielder Zaniolo 'feeling better' after knee injury shock | OneFootball

Nicolo Zaniolo's mother says the Roma midfielder is feeling in better spirits after the initial shock of a new knee injury.

Zaniolo, almost 12 months after suffering an ACL injury, was hit by another to his opposite knee in action for Italy.

“We're waiting to see where Nicolò will have the surgery," Francesca Costa told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It could be in Rome, in the American clinic where Zlatan Ibrahimovic had his operation, or in Austria. Roma are evaluating the best solution for Nicolò.

“He's feeling a little better now, but when he saw us the first time, he was in tears, he was furious, even feared he was cursed, but he's calmed down now. His first words were: 'I have to quit football. I think I've been cursed.'

“He is quite scared of anaesthetic too, but is trying to look at the positive side now. He had one reconstructed knee, now he'll have another, and seeing as they told him he has quite hefty muscles, it could be good in the long run.

“I realised he'd gone back to being the old Nicolò when he told us with two new knees, he'd be like the Bionic Man. It helped to receive so many messages from all over the world, he was constantly pointing out who had written to him. The Roma fans are amazing, they love him so much.

“I talked to (Roma CEO Guido) Fienga and as a mother was so pleased to see genuine affection and caring for my son, as a man more than a director.

“Now he's home with his girlfriend and their new puppy, who doesn't have a name yet. He just needed a little time to process it all and is now ready to fight back."