Valerio Giuffrida, the agent of Guglielmo Vicario, admits it was an ‘easy choice’ for the goalkeeper to agree to his transfer to Tottenham Hotspur from FC Empoli this summer.
Spurs secured an initial £17m deal with the Serie A team to make the 26-year-old their latest No1 in June. Ange Postecoglou signed off on Vicario’s transfer as Tottenham targeted Hugo Lloris’ successor. The 36-year-old is likely to leave north London this month after 11 terms.
Vicario caught Tottenham’s attention after impressing during his two seasons at Empoli. The Italian initially arrived at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on loan in July 2021 before agreeing to a permanent move in 2022. He amassed 14 clean sheets during 71 fixtures in all competitions.
Vicario’s transfer to Tottenham was the biggest of his career so far
Seven of Vicario’s clean sheets for Empoli in 2022/23 came during 31 Serie A outings to seal a transfer to Tottenham. The Udine-born shot-stopper thwarted Fiorentina, Bologna, Monza, Sassuolo, Cremonese, Sampdoria and Inter Milan. Empoli lost 2-0 to Napoli in both matches.
Now, Tottenham have signed Vicario to replace Lloris and afford the uncapped international his first move away from Italy. The Udinese product has only played in his home country. He had also previously featured for Fontanafredda, Venezia, Cagliari and Perugia before Empoli.
Giuffrida admits Vicario had been preparing to move to England
But while Vicario’s transfer to Tottenham was the biggest of his career so far and his first not to another Italian team, Giuffrida notes that the goalkeeper had long been preparing for any potential move to England. His agent also believes the Italian has settled in well with Spurs.
“Vicario started studying English a long time ago, so as not to be found unprepared for the eventuality that an important English club would arrive,” Giuffrida told TuttoMercatoWEB.
“He wanted a lot. Spurs were ready at that moment and he was just as ready. Vicario made a perfect presentation, he’s an intelligent boy who has already started off well in this new adventure. The one with Tottenham was the only negotiation, it was an easy choice.”
Postecoglou should know what Vicario will now offer Tottenham after featuring regularly in pre-season. He enjoyed 45 minutes against West Ham United and Lion City Sailors, plus 90 minutes against Shakhtar Donetsk and Barcelona. But Spurs conceded in each of his games.
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