Italy coach Spalletti already warned Zaniolo about his behaviour

Nicolò Zaniolo scored another goal for Atalanta against Cagliari, but Gian Piero Gasperini was unhappy with his celebration, and Luciano Spalletti has already warned the ex-Aston Villa striker about his behaviour.

Zaniolo scored the winner for Atalanta as a substitute on Saturday, helping La Dea win the 10th consecutive Serie A game. The Italian striker teased Cagliari fans after scoring in the second half, upsetting Gasperini.

The Atalanta coach openly criticised Zaniolo during a post-match press conference, saying that the team “cannot afford” such reactions, which “turn an advantage into a disadvantage.”

Zaniolo has 19 appearances and two goals for Italy’s national team and was a semi-regular starter in the Azzurri squad at the beginning of Luciano Spalletti’s reign last year.

He had played six of the opening eight games under Spalletti, but his lack of playing time at Aston Villa in the second part of 2023-24 pushed him to the sidelines, so the 25-year-old hasn’t made an international appearance since March.

The ex-Roma and Aston Villa striker has three goals and one assist in 15 Atalanta appearances this season, mainly as a substitute. He found the net in his latest two appearances against his ex-club Roma and Cagliari, but getting his name on the scoresheet may not be enough to return to the Italy squad next year.

In one of his latest interviews, Azzurri CT Spalletti discussed Zaniolo and the behaviour he expects from Italian players.

“What makes the difference is what a player shows during games; the behaviour with the teammates, the opponents and the referees,” said the CT.

“Zaniolo has great potential. I’ve brought him to the team until recent matches. He can play as a winger or a support striker. He can play in the middle as well because, with his physicality, he can play with the back to the goal. Physicality is a key quality for competing in Europe. As we saw in the last game against France, we suffered a bit from their physicality.”

Zaniolo is on loan at Atalanta from Galatasaray. La Dea have an option to make his move permanent at the end of the season for €16m plus €2.5m add-ons.