Just days after the end of the Serie A season, Fiorentina is facing unexpected turmoil on and off the pitch. Head coach Raffaele Palladino has reportedly resigned, while winger Nicolò Zaniolo is under investigation following an altercation with Roma’s youth players.
Palladino’s resignation comes as a surprise, especially after the club confirmed the extension of his contract until 2027 earlier this month. The coach, who joined Fiorentina last summer, is said to have communicated his decision to the club’s management following a press conference held by President Rocco Commisso and directors Joe Barone and Daniele Pradè. That conference had celebrated the team’s sixth-place finish in Serie A and qualification for the UEFA Conference League.
While the club digests the coaching bombshell, another controversy is unfolding involving Nicolò Zaniolo, currently on loan at Fiorentina from Galatasaray. Zaniolo is accused by AS Roma of punching two youth players after Fiorentina defeated Roma in the Primavera playoff semifinal on Monday at Viola Park.
According to Roma’s statement, Zaniolo entered their youth team’s dressing room after the match and provoked some players, leading to a physical altercation. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has opened an investigation into the incident.
Zaniolo, who was in the stands for the match, denies the accusations. He admitted to reacting badly after being verbally provoked but strongly denied any physical aggression. “I want to clarify that other than a verbal exchange, there was no physical confrontation,” he stated, also expressing regret for setting a poor example.
Fiorentina, for its part, had already decided not to activate its purchase option on the 25-year-old winger, who has struggled to regain form after injuries and short-lived loan spells at Aston Villa and Atalanta.
With a coaching vacancy and one of its most high-profile players under disciplinary scrutiny, Fiorentina finds itself navigating a complicated post-season scenario — just when it should be preparing for European football. Further developments are expected in the coming days
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