Leonardo Gabbanini, who has previously coached Pierluigi Gollini, has said that the goalkeeper did well enough at Tottenham to have warranted more game time.
Gollini joined Tottenham from Atalanta on a season-long loan deal last summer, replacing Joe Hart as Hugo Lloris’ main understudy.
The goalkeeper did not make a single Premier League appearance for the Lilywhites, with all 10 of his appearances during the 2021/22 campaign coming in the Europa Conference League and domestic club competitions (Transfermarkt).
Gollini was seemingly a popular member of the dressing room at the North London club and even admitted back in May that he would be happy to extend his spell at Spurs, admitting that he feels ‘attached to the group’ of players at the club (DAZN Talks podcast).
However, Spurs decided not to take up the option to sign the 27-year-old permanently or extend his loan spell, and instead decided to bring in Fraser Forster as their new number two.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Gollini is set to leave Atalanta this summer and return to Fiorentina, where he came through the ranks as a youngster.
Gabbanini, who was the head of academy coaching at Fiorentina during Gollini’s time at the club’s youth system, has praised the way the goalkeeper conducted himself at Spurs despite having to play second fiddle to Lloris.
He told Firenze Viola about the Italy international: “I think he did well to go there because he had all the credentials to play. The fact is that they have a world champion goalkeeper, he has shown he respects him and he left because he could no longer be backup to Lloris.”
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Gollini would have known when he came to the club that he is not likely to play too many games but he was unlucky to play as little as he did, with Spurs being eliminated from the Europa Conference League in bizarre circumstances.
The Italian conducted himself with dignity and class last season and proved to be a real team man despite the frustration he might have felt at his situation. Most Spurs fans will be rooting for him to succeed at Fiorentina.
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