Guglielmo Vicario was sitting on Tottenham's bench a few months ago, watching another goalkeeper take his place. On Sunday night in Florence, he was the man keeping Juventus from leaving empty-handed.
Things looked very different for him back in April. Roberto De Zerbi had arrived at Spurs and put his trust in Antonín Kinsky. The young goalkeeper made the saves that helped Tottenham survive their relegation battle, while Vicario spent the final seven games out injured.
By the summer, Vicario was looking for a way out.
Juventus needed a goalkeeper, but he wasn't the name they had in mind. They reportedly approached Alisson, Emiliano Martínez and Zion Suzuki before turning to Vicario. A season-long loan, an option to buy, and not much excitement around the deal. ANSA made it clear in August that he hadn't been the club's first choice.
Now, eleven Serie A games into the season, Tuttosport has him alongside Alajbegović as Juventus' best summer signing.
And after what happened against Fiorentina, you can understand why.
It wasn't a perfect performance. Fiorentina's second goal came from a shot by Álex Jiménez that Vicario couldn't hold. Alieu Njie reacted quicker than McKennie and put away the rebound. Vicario should have done better, and there's no point pretending otherwise.
But what he did in the closing minutes probably saved Juventus from another defeat.
First, there was the scare in the 82nd minute when Radu Dragusin thought he'd scored, only for the goal to be disallowed for a push on Bremer.
Then came stoppage time.
Marco Brescianini tried his luck from distance. Vicario got across and pushed it away, giving Bremer the chance to clear. Barely a minute later, Franco Mastantuono went for the near post. Vicario read it, got there and kept it out.
Two saves, right when Juventus needed them most.
Eurosport gave him a 7 and called his performance decisive. TuttoJuve went further and said he'd saved Juventus. Watching those final minutes, it's difficult to argue.
Of course, a 2-2 draw away to Fiorentina isn't something Juventus should be celebrating. Eighteen points from eleven games, already eleven behind the leaders. That's nowhere near good enough.
But without Vicario, even that one point might have been gone.
There's something almost funny about how this transfer has worked out. Juventus spent the summer chasing bigger names, eventually brought in a goalkeeper Tottenham were happy to let leave, and now he's one of the few players supporters can consistently rely on.
His reported £8.6 million purchase option looks better with every passing week.
Think about how much Juventus have spent in recent years on players who arrived with huge expectations and never came close to meeting them. Vicario came in without the big announcement or the excitement of a marquee signing. He just needed a chance to play.
He's taken it.
And for Juventus supporters, there's always going to be something special about a goalkeeper who can rescue points when the rest of the team is struggling. We spent years watching Gianluigi Buffon do exactly that.
Vicario isn't Buffon. Nobody expects him to be.
But he's reliable, he takes responsibility, and even when he makes a mistake, he doesn't let it ruin the rest of his game. That matters, especially in a Juventus side where confidence can disappear so quickly.
He wasn't the goalkeeper Juventus originally wanted.
Eleven games later, he's making a pretty convincing case that he was the one they needed.
For £8.6 million, Juventus should make this permanent.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United finalising deal to appoint Mauricio Pochettino if ultimate decision made to replace Michael Carrick. 54yo lined up & terms being done with camp. #MUFC yet to contact US but straight-forward should plan proceed @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/7767421…
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We shouldn't have subbed on that make a wish kid on at RW but he has more heart than Maddison ever will
losing at Elland road isn't the most embarrassing thing but the refs can go fuck themselves
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