Zaniolo's Italy hopes dashed as Udinese confirm hamstring injury
Quick summary
Nicolò Zaniolo has suffered a hamstring injury while on loan at Udinese, ruling him out of contention for a call-up to the Italy national team.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceNicolo Zaniolo faces three to four weeks out after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Italy.
Udinese confirmed the diagnosis in a statement on their official website : “During his commitment with the Italian national team, Nicolo Zaniolo sustained a lesion to the biceps femoris of his right thigh. The player has begun the rehabilitation process in Udine and will be available within three to four weeks.”
PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 29: Nicolò Zaniolo of Udinese Calcio looks on during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 29, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Setback ends hopes of an Italy return for Zaniolo According to Sportal , the outcome is worse than initially hoped. Zaniolo left Roberto Mancini’s camp earlier in the break with a muscular problem, and there had been optimism it might prove a simple strain allowing a quicker recovery. However, tests have ruled that out.
The timing is unkind as Zaniolo had only recently worked his way back into Mancini’s plans, with the coach who handed him his first call-up in 2018 rating him highly, and Andrea Stramaccioni had named him among those capable of dragging Italy out of their current difficulties.
He remains on 19 caps, his last coming on 24 March 2024 in a 2-0 friendly win over Ecuador in Harrison, New Jersey. A 20th will have to wait.
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What happened
Udinese have confirmed that Nicolò Zaniolo has picked up a hamstring injury, extending his absence from the Italy national team setup. The attacker, who is on loan at the Friuli club from Galatasaray, has struggled for consistency in recent years after high-profile spells at Roma and Aston Villa. The injury means his wait for a return to the Azzurri will continue, with no timeline for recovery yet provided. It marks another setback in a career that promised so much when he broke through at Roma.
Chance analysis
Zaniolo's latest injury underscores the difficult trajectory his career has taken since his breakout at Roma. Once considered one of Italy's brightest attacking prospects, he has struggled to settle across multiple clubs, and this hamstring problem further delays any return to the national team fold. For Udinese, losing a creative option in attack is a blow, though his limited impact this season softens the sporting damage. The story is more a personal setback for the player than a major tactical shift for the club.
Zaniolo will be unavailable for Udinese in the short term and remains out of Italy's national team plans until he recovers.