After his anterior cruciate ligament was ruptured, Nicolò Zaniolo has expressed the hope of playing again for AS Roma this season.

Speaking with Sky Sport Italia, the 20-year-old said the injury experience has really helped him to grow up.

The attacking midfielder made his first start for the Giallorrosi against Real Madrid. He tore his ACL in January. With the Euro 2020 shifted to 2021, the young lad could get some game time with the Rome club and stake a claim to the middle of the pack for the Azzurri.

Although the Serie A has been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left over 130,000 people dead globally with over two million infected as well.

Speaking on his reaction after the injury, Zaniola said the first two or three days afterward was a huge shock to him as he could barely talk because he realized that he had sustained a severe injury.

Zaniolo explained that he heard a crack before going to the ground, and described the sensation that came from it as horrible.

After the surgery, the 20-year-old further revealed that Professor Mariani usually comes to his room twice or thrice a day after surgery, to comfort him.

Speaking on his rehabilitation, the midfielder who appreciated the medical experts, he said his knee is reacting well, and he had set daily targets, and he is hoping to continue that.

He also stated that if possible, he would be glad to end the season with his teammates – the experience he said has helped him grow.

Speaking on the reason behind his exclusion from the Italy Under-21 squad alongside Everton striker, Moise Kean, during the European Championships, Zaniolo admitted that he needed to mature.

He revealed that they were late a couple of times to training, and he was exhausted by the end of the season.

Having been left out of the team by the coach, Gigi Di Biagio, which he said was the right thing to do,  he promised that wouldn’t happen again.

Speaking on his debut for the team in the Champions League clash against the Galacticos before any Serie A game,  Zaniolo recalled the morning former Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco told him he was starting and he said yes straight away, describing the situation as incredulous.

While stating that he will never forget the day, the midfielder admitted that he was not even thinking of traveling with the team to Madrid, let alone be in the starting line up.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed