Fabio Capello maintains Roma starlet Nicolò Zaniolo has ‘the potential to become a Ballon d’Or winner’ in future. ‘I am in love with this player.’
The creative midfielder just turned 21 last month and yesterday got his first start since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in January.
He was inspirational in the 3-1 victory away to Juventus, including a strong run from his own half to set up Diego Perotti’s second goal.
Fabio Capello maintains Roma starlet Nicolò Zaniolo has ‘the potential to become a Ballon d’Or winner’ in future. ‘I am in love with this player.’
The creative midfielder just turned 21 last month and yesterday got his first start since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in January.
He was inspirational in the 3-1 victory away to Juventus, including a strong run from his own half to set up Diego Perotti’s second goal.
“Kaka didn’t have the same strength as Zaniolo, as he was more technical and expressed himself better in the final third,” Capello told Sky Sport Italia in his role as pundit.
“This Roma talent has extraordinary physicality, power and pace, mixed in with quality. He has the potential not just to win the Golden Shoe in future, but something more.
“I am in love with Zaniolo, because he has everything at the highest level: power, quality and pace. There are players out there with a lot of potential, but not like him.
“Looking at the assist for Perotti against Juventus, to reach the edge of the area after running from midfield with the ball at his feet and still having the cool head to make that precise pass, that means he has great vision and a really precise feel for the ball.
“I don’t see other young players as good as Zaniolo around at the moment, so yes, I think he has the potential to become a Ballon d’Or winner.”