'Ready and very strong': Legend says £17m Tottenham ace is now better than PSG star
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Upon sealing his £17 million move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023, one of last season’s breakout stars explained his decision to join the Premier League outfit.
And forcing his way into the national team set up was one of the Spurs stars big ambitions.
One year on, Guglielmo Vicario swapping Empoli for Tottenham to the tune of 20 million euros is proving to be a move that is working out pretty well both for player and club.
Because while Vicario continues to blossom into one of the finest shot-stoppers in English football, the late-blooming 28-year-old has also achieved his aim of not only nailing down a place in the Italy squad but also securing a starting berth for the Azzurri.
After spending the entirety of this summer’s European Championships on the bench, Luciano Spalletti preferred Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, Vicario made his third Italy start during the 4-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Israel on Monday.
And, according to legendary AC Milan goalkeeper Filippo Galli, Donnarumma should now be glancing nervously over his shoulder.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Guglielmo Vicario rated higher than PSG ace
“Vicario has become a starter at a great level,” Galli tells reporters. “Today, we can say that he is established, ready and very strong.
“Vicario, without a doubt [should be Italy’s number one]. He’s my prototype of a goalkeeper.”
Galli, a five-time Serie A champion with the Rossoneri in the 1980s and 1990s, feels that Vicario possesses the kind David de Gea-esque elegance between the sticks that Donnarumma cannot match.
“For me, [Donnarumma] is very good, let’s be clear. But he lacks that touch of elegance,” Galli adds. “That which De Gea has, who is also beautiful to look at as well as strong.”
Donnarumma, for all his strengths, is certainly not an elite passer of the ball.
That is another advantage Tottenham’s Vicario has over his Paris-based rival. Postecoglou chose the former Inter Milan target as Hugo Lloris’ replacement in North London not only for his cat-like reflexes but also due to his comfort in a possession-heavy system.
"I really liked Vicario,” Italian commentator Claudio Pasqualin tells Tuttomercatoweb, albeit questioning his role in Israel’s consolation strike. “He showed that he is there in certain tactical situations.
“It was his debut, on the goal he was a bit clumsy. I would say not very clever. But, beyond the episode which is negligible, Vicario has shown [his talent] and gives great confidence [to the Italy backline].”
Ange Postecoglou cannot speak highly enough of Vicario
Vicario has earned comparisons with the aforementioned David de Gea a few times since moving to England, for better or for worse.
De Gea was an elite, almost gravity-defying shot-stopper at his Manchester United best. But, on other occasions, his inability to command a penalty area and deal with dipping crosses became a weakness opposition teams were more than happy to exploit.
But whatever whatever kinks there may be in the Udine-born glovesman’s game, Ange Postecoglou feels that Vicario is most certainly a net-positive fro Tottenham.
"He has been great since the day he arrived mate,” Postecoglou said after Vicario saved a penalty and countless other attempts while wearing the captain’s armband as a ten-man Tottenham hammered FK Qarabag 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League in September.
"Criticism is just part of the nature of football these days. We have had a few under the spotlight. I included him in the leadership (group) this year, I have just seen his growth. He is one of those guys who is really positive.
"He comes in every day wanting to work, he comes in on his days off wanting to work. He is a great example for everyone and a great human being as well.
"I thought he could add something to our leadership group. It's great for him to get the armband last night and I thought he rose to the occasion.
"He was big for us. He hasn't had to make too many big saves in the first few games for us but we needed him for a couple last night and he was great."
