FORMER Aston Villa star Nicolo Zaniolo has been accused of STRIKING two Roma youngsters after their match with Fiorentina.
Zaniolo, who is on loan at Fiorentina from Galatasaray, is said to have visited Roma's dressing room after the semi-final of the Primavera youth league title play-off, which La Viola won 2-1.
And Roma claim their former midfielder struck two of their youth team players after he "'engaged in provocative behaviour".
The Serie A big boys said in a statement: "AS Roma announces that, following today's match, a regrettable incident occurred involving player Nicolo Zaniolo.
"According to initial reconstructions, the player allegedly entered the Primavera team's dressing room after the match and engaged in provocative behaviour towards some of the Giallorossi youth players.
"During the confrontation, two players from the Primavera squad were reportedly physically struck.
"AS Roma cannot but firmly condemn any form of aggressive conduct or behaviour that does not align with the values of sport."
Italy international Zaniolo, who made 39 appearances for Aston Villa during a 2023/24 loan spell at Villa Park, has denied Roma's accounts of the incident.
The former Giallorossi star claims he was insulted after visiting his old dressing room and left after receiving a torrent of verbal abuse.
He said: "At the end of the match, I went into the locker room to congratulate the Fiorentina lads, then passed through the Roma room to salute and compliment them on their season.
"However, at a certain point, they started to insult me.
"So at that stage, to avoid the situation degenerating, I preferred to simply leave."
Zaniolo added another update today on Instagram, in which he apologised for his behaviour but denied being "physically aggressive".
In a statement he wrote: "I went there with the only intention of giving a positive message… Unfortunately, I was verbally provoked by a boy and, mistakenly, I lost my temper.
"However, I would like to point out that the facts are far removed from what has been reconstructed and that on my part, apart from a verbal argument, there was no physically aggressive behaviour.
"I want to apologise from the bottom of my heart for what happened yesterday. I know I reacted badly and I take responsibility for it."
Zaniolo joined Roma in the summer of 2018 from Inter Milan for a fee in the region of £4million.
He'd spend four and a half seasons at the Stadio Olimpico - a stint which was blighted by injury - before a £13.5m move to Galatasaray in February 2023.
He'd join Villa on loan six months later and would score three goals in his 39 appearances for the Brummie club.
He started the 2024/25 season on loan at Atalanta but would end the campaign with Fiorentina, for whom he made 13 appearances in all competitions.