He’s only been at Villa Park a matter of months but it looks like Gollini could be about to sign with the 2010 Champions League winners.
If David De Gea, one of the world’s most exciting young goalkeepers and a Europa League winner, and Loris Karius, voted the second best shot-stopper in the Bundesliga behind Manuel Neuer, should receive the support of their managers and respective fanbases after struggling to adapt to a new, physical league, surely 21-year-old Pierluigi Gollini deserves the benefit of the doubt too.
Yes, the Villa youngster hasn’t been the most reliable goalkeeper in the Championship this season and his inability to command his area has often been preyed upon by eagle-eyed opponents, but there’s a reason he’s been heavily linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs and even tipped to replace Gianluigi Buffon for club and country – because he’s an immensely talented prospect.
The majority of Aston Villa fans know that and are ready to back him to the hilt.
On the flipside, however, the Championship is an unforgiving environment where any sign of weakness will be punished without remorse. And there’s only so much the fans, and the manager, can take.
Steve Bruce admitted to the Birmingham Mail that Gollini made a “crucial mistake” by failing to claim a cross in Villa’s 2-0 defeat at Leeds while the many fans were quick to question his positioning after a daisycutter from Norwich City’s Nelson Oliveira found its way into the corner at Carrow Road.
Bruce has only lost two games in charge of Villa yet, on both occasions, Gollini has been culpable.
Consequently, reports from Gazzetta Dello Sport that the former Hellas Verona goalkeeper is in negotiations over an imminent return to Inter Milan in January have split the fanbase down the middle.
Should Villa cash in and sign young Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who has accumulated a wealth of lower league experience in a series of loans? Or back the gifted Gollini and let him grow at his own pace?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
