Zaniolo Has Torn Left ACL, Surgery Set for Wednesday

Nicolo Zaniolo, Roma's 21-year-old star in the making, was dealt another blow this morning as tests confirmed a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Making just his seventh appearance for Italy yesterday, Zaniolo was hurt in the 40th minute of the Azzurri's UEFA Nations League match against the Netherlands. While he walked off the pitch under his own power and didn't report any significant pain, an MRI this morning at Villa Stuart confirmed the complete tear of the ACL in his left knee, which comes a mere eight months after tearing the ACL in his right knee last January.

According to the official club press release

Nicolò Zaniolo will undergo surgery on Wednesday after MRI scans on Tuesday confirmed the player has suffered a complete tear to the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.

The 21-year-old, who was seen by Professor Mariani at Villa Stuart private hospital in Rome, suffered the injury while playing for Italy against Holland in the UEFA Nations League on Monday evening.

Despite suffering a second catastrophic knee injury in barely eight months, Zaniolo remained upbeat, vowing to return soon:

We'll track Zaniolo's recovery process over the next few months, but it's safe to say he's facing an extended stay on the sidelines and will likely miss most, if not all, of the 2020-2021 Serie A season.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Nico!