Fiorentina sign Zaniolo on loan from Galatasaray

GDANSK: Fiorentina have signed Italy forward Nicolo Zaniolo on loan from Galatasaray until the end of the season for 3.2 million euros ($3.30 million), the Turkish Super Lig club said in statement on Monday.

The 25-year-old was on loan at Serie A side Atalanta since July 2024 but that deal has been terminated.

Fiorentina hold a purchase option that allows them to sign Zaniolo permanently for 15.5 million euros, plus 2 million in bonuses, according to Galatasaray’s statement.

On Saturday, last month, Napoli went top of the Serie A standings thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win at Fiorentina, the visitors facing few problems as they registered a fourth successive league victory.

With Napoli’s main Scudetto rivals not in league action that weekend — Atalanta and Inter Milan were both in Saudi Arabia for the Italian Super Cup — Antonio Conte’s side took full advantage.

Napoli were on 44 points, three ahead of Atalanta who had a game in hand, and Inter were a further point back, but with two fewer matches played. Fiorentina dropped to sixth on 32 points.

Mathias Olivera had the ball in the net for Napoli early on but the goal was ruled out for offside, while Leonardo Spinazzola drew a save from Fiorentina keeper David de Gea.

The visitors took the lead in the 29th minute when David Neres went on a mazy dribbling run into the area, going past three players before blasting a powerful shot into the roof of the net.