Zaniolo Praises Aston Villa and Emery After Loan Spell
Former Aston Villa loanee Nicolo Zaniolo has openly shared his continued admiration for the club and manager Unai Emery, despite the disappointment of not securing a permanent transfer. The Italian playmaker spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Villa Park, a move prompted by Emi Buendia's season-ending knee injury just before the campaign began.
A Premier League Experience to Remember
In an interview with talkSPORT, Zaniolo described his time in England as a valuable learning opportunity. "In England, it was a very good experience because the Premier League, I think it's the NBA in football, it's the best league in the world," he stated. "It's the most difficult league, I think, in the world because every club, every player are so strong, are so good." He emphasized that playing for Aston Villa was a highlight, noting the team's quality and the historic significance of the club.
Zaniolo scored three goals during his loan spell but started only nine league matches, with most of those appearances coming in the first half of the season. He reflected on this, saying, "In the beginning, I think I was starting well, I played the first three, four months, every match, starting 11. After, I don't play so much, but because the team in this time, at the end of the season, we arrived fourth place and Aston Villa got Champions League."
Acceptance and Ongoing Respect
Despite his initial goal to become a permanent player, Zaniolo accepted the club's decision not to retain him. "One of my goals at this time was to become a permanent player of Aston Villa, but they decided they don't see me as permanent. I accepted the decision, but I still continue to see Aston Villa, I still continue to have a big respect for the club and for the players," he explained. He also highlighted the strong competition within the squad, mentioning players like Leon Bailey, Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins, and Morgan Rogers.
Zaniolo reserved special praise for Unai Emery, calling him a "complete, complete coach" and a "genius tactically." "He's a very good guy, he's a very good man, he's a very experienced coach, he won so many Europa League [titles] and now I continue to follow Aston Villa," he added. He expressed happiness at seeing Villa's current success, noting they are third in the league.
Overall, Zaniolo's comments underscore his positive outlook on his time at Aston Villa, focusing on the experience and growth rather than the unmet transfer hopes.
