Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly close to signing Guglielmo Vicario to a long-term contract as their first major addition of the summer (SkySports), apart from Dejan Kulusevski’s permanent deal.
While Vicario is not a household name yet, he just might be in the future as he’s capable of making terrific reaction saves as well as continually improving on being comfortable with the ball at his feet, something that is necessary to play football the way new manager Ange Postecoglou wants to.
Here are five things you should know about Tottenham’s new goalkeeper…
SANTA MARGHERITA DI PULA, ITALY – JUNE 06: Guglielmo Vicario of Italy looks on during training session at Forte Village Resort on June 06, 2023 in Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
1. Italian giants were interested in signing him
Vicario was regarded by some as the second-best goalkeeper in Serie A last season behind Inter Milan’s Andre Onana (FootballLondon).
Because of his standout performances, several clubs in Italy such as Inter Milan, Napoli, Juventus and even Brighton from the Premier League were interested in the 26-year-old’s services (FootballLondon).
Inter’s interest makes sense as they could lose Onana this summer, but Tottenham swooped in to land Vicario before any other club could.
2. Tendency to parry shots into dangerous areas
Vicario is an excellent shot-stopper, but some of his heroics are caused by him not handling the ball properly on shots or set pieces, forcing him to make a miraculous save at the last second.
He made an impressive triple save against AS Roma last season, but it could have been avoided had he parried the ball out of harm’s way.
Fortunately, Vicario is only 26, which is still quite young for goalkeepers given that they play much longer than outfield players typically do. Vicario has plenty of time to improve in this aspect and claim the No. 1 Tottenham shirt.
3. Vicario has an impressive penalty save record
Vicario’s penalty save percentage is nothing short of impressive. In his career, he has faced a total of 38 penalties, saving 11 of them, which equals roughly 29%. In the 2022/23 season, Vicario saved three out of seven penalties faced.
Vicario’s penalty record is not a one-off thing, as his 11 career saves indicate. In the 2018/19 season with Venezia in Serie B, he saved two out of six penalties faced.
In the 2021/22 season with Empoli in Serie A, he saved five out of 10 penalties faced. Hopefully, the Italian will continue his penalty record heroics in N17.
4. He joins Fraser Forster as a towering duo
Tottenham currently have the tallest goalkeeper in the Premier League, Fraser Forster, who is 6’7” (2,01 m) tall. The Lilywhites have added another towering goalkeeper in Vicario as he stands at 6’4” (1,94 m), and is capable of saving long-shots due to his height and wingspan.
Last season, we saw Fraser Forster step in during the last few months and pull off some great saves due to his incredible wingspan. Tottenham will be seeing more of that with Vicario in goal in the coming seasons.
5. Worked his way up from the Italian fourth division
Guglielmo Vicario’s career path is quite similar to Ange Postecoglou. Both have earned chances to show what they’re all about at a big club and have humble beginnings.
Vicario started out in the lower divisions of Italian football and has now earned his chance at a Premier League club.
In the 2015/16 season, Vicario was on loan at Venezia from Udinese and helped the club achieve promotion from Serie D to Serie C by keeping 17 clean sheets in 36 matches (TransferMarkt).
Fast forward a few years later and Vicario had a breakout season in the 2021/22 term on loan at Empoli, keeping seven clean sheets like he did this past season (TransferMarkt).
Empoli signed him on a permanent deal following that season, and he has been key to their Serie A survival. Vicario will relish the opportunity to show what he’s all about as Tottenham now have their new starting goalkeeper.
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