Nicolo Zaniolo faces an uncertain future at Udinese just weeks after the club activated their option to buy him from Galatasaray, with a salary dispute now threatening to push the Italian midfielder toward an immediate exit. The Friulian club have slapped a €15m-€20m valuation on the 26-year-old as Lazio monitor the developing situation.
Zaniolo spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Udinese, contributing six goals and six assists across 34 Serie A appearances. That productivity convinced the club to make his stay permanent, securing his services on a contract running until 2029. However, the arrangement has soured rapidly over financial terms.
Wage Dispute at the Heart of Standoff
The former Roma midfielder is reportedly earning €1.5m per season at Udinese, roughly half the salary he commanded at Galatasaray. Sources indicate Zaniolo reluctantly accepted this reduction to facilitate a last-minute move last summer, operating under what his agent has suggested was a “gentlemen’s agreement” to renegotiate terms once the transfer became permanent.
Udinese, however, face no contractual obligation to increase his wages. This impasse has left the player considering his options despite having only recently committed his long-term future to the club.
Lazio Interest and Valuation
Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso has identified Zaniolo as a potential target, with the capital club ready to capitalise on the unrest. Udinese are understood to require sales this transfer window to generate funds for incoming signings, making Zaniolo’s departure a practical solution despite its awkward timing.
The asking price of €15m-€20m represents a significant markup on whatever fee Udinese paid to trigger their purchase option, though exact figures for that transaction remain undisclosed. For Lazio, the opportunity to acquire a player with Zaniolo’s technical ability and Serie A experience at that valuation could prove attractive, particularly given the circumstances forcing Udinese’s hand.
Zaniolo has represented five different clubs over the past three years, and a move to the Stadio Olimpico would add another chapter to his nomadic recent career. The situation places Udinese in a difficult position, having secured the player as a cornerstone of their squad only to risk losing him before he plays a single competitive match under his new permanent deal. The coming days promise to be crucial as all parties determine whether a compromise can be reached.