The agent of Monza and Serie A goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio has indicated that a summer move to the Premier League was never on the cards for the Nottingham Forest target.
Before settling on Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos – the shot-stopping duo arriving at the City Ground from Arsenal and Benfica respectively – Nottingham Forest cast their eyes across a wide variety of other goalkeeping targets.
They looked at Emil Audero, now of Inter Milan. Guglielmo Vicario’s father confirms that Forest showed an interest in him too before that £17 million move to Tottenham Hotspur.
And then there was also Michele di Gregorio.
According to Italian reporter Gianluca di Marzio, Forest offered £8 million for Di Gregorio, only to see the Milan-born 26-year-old put pen to paper on a new contract at an ambitious Monza outfit.
Nottingham Forest wanted Michele di Gregorio
“The flattery from the Premier League is nice,” agent Carlo Alberto Belloni tells Twitch. “But, last summer, we were always focused on staying in Monza. At least for another season.”
And Monza is where Di Gregorio remains. For the time being, at least.
According to Calciomercato, the one-time Inter Milan prospect has already been lined up by Roma to replace the increasingly error-prone Rui Patricio between the sticks under Jose Mourinho in 2024.
Preliminary talks with Di Gregorio’s entourage have taken place. For now, however, that can wait.
“Monza is the right environment for Di Gregorio and the results can be seen,” Belloni adds, the Biancorossi flying high in seventh place. “He works with dedication and consistency.”
Matt Turner has the gloves at Forest
Matt Turner currently has the number one shirt nailed down at Nottingham Forest, despite some nervy moments and questions marks over his distribution. A factor which contributed to his sale by Arsenal.
Vlachodimos, in contrast, is yet to make his mark under Steve Cooper. The former Manchester United target is having to bide his time on the bench.
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