Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo reminded Chelsea what they’ve been missing following the departure of Tammy Abraham nearly 12 months ago.
Speaking to The Athletic, Zaniolo did not downplay his new teammate’s influence on Jose Mourinho’s side since leaving Stamford Bridge.
Tammy the king of Rome
To say Abraham has hit it off with the Serie A centurions would be an understatement.
The 24-year-old is firmly part of the Roman furniture now, having settled into Italian life rather stupendously.
His 24 goals this season have taken him to a different level of respect that perhaps he wasn’t receiving in England.
Certainly not at Chelsea, where the striker was cast to the corner by Thomas Tuchel, overlooked and underused.
Romelu Lukaku’s return to Cobham struck the final nail in Abraham’s coffin, sending him in the opposite direction across the continent and into Mourinho’s open arms.
Whilst Lukaku continues to flounder, his fellow number nine continues to flourish.
He is adored by the Roma fans, especially after scoring twice in the 3-0 derby victory over Lazio in March.
Abraham has also clearly caught the attention of his co-workers.
“He’s a strong, physical striker,” praised Zaniolo, who himself is enjoying a very productive campaign.
“He’s got a good shot on him and he’s quick. Tammy’s the whole package.
“We’re both young and can still improve. He’s a top player. He doesn’t just know where the goal is, he’s got the vision to pick out a team-mate.
“I get on really well with him. He’s a fantastic guy, always up for anything, always smiling. He’s been a great find.”
Mourinho’s hot shots
This friendship could bode extremely well for Mourinho in the long run.
Both are still in the twilight of their careers, with arguably plenty more to come from the young pair.
They have even played up front several times together this term, a combination that has seen Zaniolo assist the centre-forward four times.
However, players of such talent often don’t last very long at one club.
Roma have reportedly slapped a £42m (TuttoMercatoWeb) price tag on Zaniolo, with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur lurking.
Meanwhile, Abraham was linked with a move to Arsenal even before leaving Chelsea.
Imagine what they’d do to acquire his goals now…
Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
