After Roma accused Fiorentina winger Nicolò Zaniolo of abusing two members of the youth squad, he might be subject to a lengthy suspension.

The alleged incident happened after Fiorentina defeated Roma in Monday’s Primavera minor league championship playoff match.

After Roma issued a statement addressing the “regrettable incident,” Zaniolo denied any wrongdoing. But according to reports, the Italian soccer organization opened an inquiry on Tuesday.

Roma said, “Preliminary reports indicate the player entered the Primavera team’s dressing room following the game and behaved provocatively toward some of the Giallorossi youth players.” “Two Primavera players were allegedly physically assaulted during the altercation.”

Zaniolo is now on loan from Galatasaray to Fiorentina. After five years with the capital club, where he won Serie A Young Player of the Year in 2019, he joined the Turkish squad from Roma.

Zaniolo, 25, went to Viola Park on Monday to witness the game from the stands. Fiorentina issued Zaniolo’s statement in response to Roma’s charges.

“I congratulated the Fiorentina boys in the locker room after the game, and then I went to the Roma locker room to congratulate them on their season as well,” Zaniolo said. But when they started insulting me, I made the decision to leave in order to save things from becoming worse.

After making his debut for Italy as a youngster in 2019, Zaniolo was previously regarded as one of the country’s most promising prospects.

Unfortunately, his career has been hampered by injuries. Since missing last year’s European Championship because of a metatarsal fracture he suffered while on loan at Aston Villa in the season’s second-to-last game, he has not played for Italy.

The two teams ended in close proximity to one another, with Roma finishing fifth with 69 points and Fiorentina finishing sixth with 65 points. The former will play in the Conference League, while the latter will qualify for the Europa League.

It was a dismal finish to Zaniolo’s loan stay at Fiorentina, as the Italian star failed to score any goals in his nine games there and is now expected to return to his home club.