Gianluca Pagliuca backs Inter move for Tottenham goalkeeper despite difficult season, as club searches for Yann Sommer replacement
Former Inter Milan goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca has urged his old club to pursue a move for Guglielmo Vicario, insisting the Tottenham stopper remains one of Italy’s top talents.
Inter are preparing for a change between the posts, with veteran Yann Sommer expected to depart when his contract expires at the end of June. The Serie A leaders are now actively exploring replacements, and Vicario has emerged as a leading candidate.
The 29-year-old joined Tottenham Hotspur with high expectations, and while he helped Spurs to the Europa League last season, this campaign has proven far more challenging.
A string of individual errors has contributed to Tottenham’s struggles near the bottom of the Premier League table, raising questions about his long-term future in north London.
However, Pagliuca believes those difficulties should be viewed in context rather than as a reflection of Vicario’s overall ability.
“Inter need a strong goalkeeper, and Vicario is that,” Pagliuca told TMW. “He played in the world’s top league and for a team that until recently was aiming to win the Premier League.”
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The former Italy international pointed to the broader issues at Tottenham this season, including managerial changes and inconsistent performances across the squad.
“He couldn’t turn down Tottenham, especially after a Champions League final. This year he’s had difficulties, but the whole team has had them, and they’ve changed coaches.”
Pagliuca highlights areas for improvement
Despite his backing, Pagliuca acknowledged that Vicario still has room to develop, particularly in certain aspects of his game.
“He’s one of the best Italian goalkeepers around. He’s not yet a top player, but if Inter sign him, they’ll do so for his quality, not because he’s Italian.”
“He’s very good in goal, but he needs to improve his exits; sometimes he stays too close to the line. It would be a new challenge for a top Italian team, but he can do it.”
With Tottenham reportedly open to reshaping their goalkeeping options this summer, a move back to Italy could offer Vicario the chance to reset and re-establish himself at the highest level.
