Opinion: From Rome to Italy, Zaniolo aims to continue rise

With international duty underway for lots of Roma players, contributor Matthew Santangelo takes a look at the unexpected opportunity presented to Nicolo Zaniolo - as he joins up with the Italy squad once again...

Soon after falling into a deep state of disappointment and disarray amidst the failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Italy began its rebirth.

This rebirth, a revolution of sorts, was fueled by hope back home and abroad in Roberto Mancini, the man entrusted to author a new era of success for the Azzurri - putting them back where they belong.

Historically, Italy has been steadfastly committed to veteran experience leading the team into battle, and it is largely to credit for many of the previous triumphs on the international level.

To a degree, not all that much has changed even now - as there are many of the old guard who continue to play prominent roles all over the pitch. But, there is so much power and beauty in Italy’s current youth movement which simply cannot be ignored by the opposition.

Young footballers observe the game with fresh eyes, perspective and such lively determination. They create much-needed change by throwing convention out the window and flipping the script to advance the conversation on how the game should be played.

To this day, Italy owns this stereotype of being a rigid, rugged and no-nonsense defending nation, rooted in ‘catenaccio’ principles that pigeonholes them to being devoid of playing attractive attacking football.

In 2006, it was unapologetically embraced as it led to their fourth World Cup title. But, while this DNA still very much remains embedded in the fabric of Italian football, youngsters like Roma's own Nicolo Zaniolo are striving to change this narrative and preconceived belief that Italians can’t adapt with the offensively-heavy times.

Brimming with talent, the Massa-born playmaker took to Serie A like a duck to water in 2018, rapidly became one of the league’s brightest young stars.

From his first goal against Sassuolo - where he exercised a bit of trickey, skill and ingenuity to chip the keeper - to his brace against Porto in the Champions League, Zaniolo's exploits lent credence to those suggestions that he was one who could soon liven up Mancini's national side.

Zaniolo, who had been summoned by the former Manchester City boss for first-team duty before he even debuted in the Italian flight, eventually pulled on the famous blue shirt for his debut on 23 March 2019, coming off the bench in a 2-0 defeat of Finland in Italy’s first 2020 UEFA European Championship qualifier.

Months later, Mancini awarded Zaniolo his first start vs. Liechtenstein, where his playmaking adroitness and attacking influence helped his country cruise to a 5-0 victory and effectively cemented his spot in the squad.

The 20-year old, who once top-scored from the midfield with 13 goals in Inter Milan's Primavera-winning season in 2017-18, punctuated the offensive outburst with his first pair of goals and an assist that offered an expansive view inside the rising star’s armory of talent.

Cutting through Armenia’s entire retreating defence on the break, Zaniolo’s slaloming run wedged open space and found him in the clear to receive and bury the ball into the next to open his account.

Before rifling in his second just off the edge of the penalty area and into the top corner, Zaniolo’s pitch awareness and vision from a deep midfield position allowed him to recognise the space in behind Armenia’s high line with a lovely lob over the top to assist Immobile.

Standing 6'3" and with positional versatility to go with his physicality, Nicolo has been likened by his father to hold a similar construct to AC Milan great Kaka, though you can argue the Italian’s makeup shares similarities to many of the past and present day footballers.

An appraisal of his ranging skill set, sleek left foot and technique tells us the vibrant young attacking star is enriched with all the necessary quality to be special, though it is his mental attitude that will undoubtedly define just how far he goes.

“The only way to manage expectations is within myself," Zaniolo told Roma TV recently.

"I can't listen to what others say, good or bad. I'm not [Francesco] Totti, but one day I hope to be as good."

Between his international exploits and importance to Roma’s domestic cause, Zaniolo was in line to make it into the squad EURO 2020. However, his hopes of partaking in the tournament diminished when he tore his ACL in a mid-January defeat against Juventus, threatening to have him miss out on the summer tournament altogether.

Of course, the coronavirus pandemic postponed the competition until next summer, which perhaps served as a blessing for Zaniolo who would soon find his footing, re-establish his physical to meet the demands of the game and leave opposing defences in ruins - just as Mancini prefers.

Shortly after the 2019-20 Serie A campaign resumed, Zaniolo would be reintroduced to the squad against Napoli and Parma before notching his first goal since December in a 0-3 defeat of Brescia in the weeks to follow.

Undoubtedly, it was a positive moment for himself and those in his corner, only it was his awe-inspiring goal in a 1-6 win vs SPAL in Ferrara that signalled his emphatic return to previous heights.

Zaniolo’s mad dash up the pitch saw him dust multiple defenders in the process, fending off one and leaving another dormant in the rear view mirror with a flash of dribbling brilliance before capping off his solo run with a sweeping shot into the top corner.

Here, we witnessed Zaniolo let loose and demonstrate the level of comfort that often does not come easily after major surgery. As a result, Fonseca inserted him into the starting line-up for the do-or-die match against Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League, a refreshing sight to see despite bowing out of the competition in the end.

Then last week, it was revealed that Mancini had selected Zaniolo once again for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Bosnia and the Netherlands.

It was the vote of confidence the youngster surely needed to ensure his spot in a crowded field of talent, as well as the opportunity to prove to the world his legitimacy as a top-level talent on the international stage.

Though undeniably blessed and at the heart of the capital club’s important project, resolve, character and a humble approach down recovery road have guided Zaniolo back - ready to turn heads and, if the stars align, play a massive role in an Italian renaissance.