Guglielmo Vicario has revealed that he will continue with the number 13 shirt this season irrespective of whether Hugo Lloris stays or leaves.
Vicario has huge shoes to fill, with Lloris undoubtedly being the best goalkeeper Tottenham have had in their modern history.
However, with less than two weeks left until the transfer window slams shut, there is still no clarity on whether the Frenchman will still be at the club for the upcoming season.
It emerged last week that Lloris had turned down the chance to join Lazio (L’Equipe) but some reports in Italy continue to suggest that the deal is not dead in the water as of yet (Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness).
Lloris continues to train with the first team at Hotspur Way and while Vicario admitted that he has a lot of respect for the 36-year-old, he insisted that he is concentrating on himself.
When asked about taking over from the former Tottenham captain, the new Spurs number one told Football.London: “To work, I have to think about myself. I need to give a lot of respect to Hugo.
“He is a great goalkeeper and has won such a lot. He is a star in this club and I just have respect for him and he is a big guy. I just have to concentrate on myself and do what the manager wants of me.”
Guglielmo Vicario will not wear the number one
However, Vicario insisted that he will not take the number one shirt from Lloris as No.13 has always been his top choice.
The Italian stated: “Thirteen is my favourite number and I also had it in previous years. It is in my heart and it was free when I signed so I decided to take it and I will keep the number.”
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I do wonder if Lloris might have agreed to see out his contract at Spurs and remain at the club as an understudy for this season if he had anticipated that there would not be a lot of interest in him this summer.
By the looks of it, the 36-year-old does not have the option to return to France at the moment and might have to settle for being a number two at a club such as Lazio.
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