Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle have exited the Italian national team amid police inquiries into potential illegal betting on football matches. The reports came from Sky Sport Italy and were later echoed by the Italian Football Federation, which chose to withdraw the two players from the training camp to protect the squad while investigations continue. The national team is preparing for upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Malta and England, and the federation’s decision aims to safeguard players and preserve the team’s focus during this period. (Sky Sport Italy)
The disclosure of the two players’ names came from Fabrizio Corona, a former high-profile photographer who has spent a total of ten years under house arrest and under special supervision for a string of charges involving blackmail and fraud. Corona’s statements have heightened the public and media attention surrounding the case. (Source: Fabrizio Corona)
Corona later claimed that Nicolo Fagioli, Juventus Torino midfielder, had placed a bet and asserted that Tonali and Zaniolo had engaged in similar betting activity. According to Corona’s assertions, Zaniolo placed a bet on a Coppa Italia match while he was a Roma player sitting on the bench. The Italian football authorities have not substantiated these claims with independent evidence in the public arena, but they are part of the ongoing narrative surrounding betting integrity in Italian football. (Source: Fabrizio Corona)
Tonali, 23, has been noted for his earlier work with Brescia and Milan and has earned 15 caps for Italy. Zaniolo, aged 24, has previously represented Inter, Roma, and Galatasaray, and he too has accumulated 15 appearances for the national team. The evolving situation underscores the scrutiny placed on players regarding betting practices and the need for clear conduct guidelines as the national team looks to maintain readiness for competitive fixtures. (Player histories summarized from national team records)
In another, less connected note, Juventus has previously issued a statement denying advances regarding Ronaldo’s salary payments, highlighting the broader context in which Italian clubs and players navigate financial and contractual matters alongside on-field performance. (Club statements and media coverage)