Fiorentina and former Roma, Galatasaray, and Aston Villa striker Nicolò Zaniolo admitted he knew illegal betting platforms might involve dangerous people.
“I knew perfectly well that I had played on illicit platforms and I knew there could be dangerous people behind it,” he told prosecutors. Zaniolo made the statement in October 2023 to Turin investigators, who later passed the case to their Milan colleagues. The new probe into illegal sports betting involves around 20 sportspeople.
He explained that his involvement began while on national duty with Nicolò Fagioli. “I wanted to play poker and blackjack,” he said. “I asked Fagioli where I could play,” Zaniolo added. Fagioli allegedly gave him the number of Tommaso De Giacomo, the suspected ring coordinator.
Zaniolo said De Giacomo “sent me a link on which I entered my username and password” to access the illegal platform.
The case files also include a statement from former Roma full-back Alessandro Florenzi, made in 2023.
Florenzi confirmed he paid off debts with bank transfers to a jewellery shop called Elysium. He said he transferred “€140,000 – €150,000”.
Former Milan and Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali also admitted debts in his statement from two years ago.
He told prosecutors he owed “€500,000” to “Tommy and any managers of the platform,” which he repaid partly through winnings and transfers.
The investigation files include two statements from ex-Juventus player Fagioli, dated October 2023 and February 2024. Fagioli said he bought “fifteen watches” from the Milan jewellery store, each worth €15,000 – €20,000. Four or five were reportedly taken by creditors.
Fagioli, like the others, accumulated hundreds of thousands of euros in gambling debts. “The organisers of the sites,” Fagioli told prosecutors, “offered me advantages if I brought in other bettors.”
Prosecutors believe De Giacomo was the one who encouraged Fagioli to “hook up” other footballers to the illegal betting ring.
