Nicolo Zaniolo’s Aston Villa v West Ham availability revealed
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Nicolo Zaniolo is available to feature in Aston Villa’s Premier League game against West Ham on Sunday.
The decision on whether the Italian features will rest with manager Unai Emery - despite the midfielder set to be invited back to his home land to answer questions on illegal betting from the Turin Prosecutor’s office.
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Hide AdAccording to Gazzetta dello Sport, that return will likely happen in the next few days - either before the visit of the Hammers to Villa, or next week after the game.
Whatever date is agreed, it’s understood that Zaniolo is still free to play, irrespective of the ongoing investigation back in Italy.
Juventus’ Nicolò Fagioli has already been handed a seven-month ban for illegal betting. Meanwhile, Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali could face a similar punishment after he admitted to betting on AC Milan games while he played for the Rossoneri.
Like Zaniolo, he was withdrawn from the latest Italy get-together and missed the Azzurri’s 3-1 Euro qualifying defeat to England at Wembley on Tuesday night.
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Hide AdHowever, it’s been reported that, following an inspection of electronic devices, no evidence has been gathered against Villa’s on-loan midfielder.
There’s nothing to suggest that he was betting on football. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old has admitted to playing blackjack on a portal that he did not know was illegal.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Zaniolo will have to explain to prosecutors why his name appears among the users of illegal platforms and how it got there, given that access is permitted by invitation only.
Since leaving the Italy national team’s Coverciano training base last week, Zaniolo has been back at Villa.
The on-loan Galatasaray ace has made nine appearances to date for Emery’s side, who sit fifth in the table heading into Sunday’s head-to-head with West Ham.
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