Nottingham Forest missed out on a deal for Michele di Gregorio last summer with the once Premier League linked Serie A ace since turning into ‘one of the best goalkeepers in Europe’.
Fortunately, Odysseas Vlachodimos’ Nottingham Forest debut could hardly have gone any better. A clean sheet in a 2-0 win over high-flying Aston Villa, a couple of commanding catches, the odd save, and no mistakes to speak of.
Amid the growing narrative around Matt Turner – another high-profile error gifting Mo Salah of all people a goal against Liverpool – that Villa display at least suggests that Steve Cooper does still have a reliable number one on his books.
The seemingly unstoppable rise of Michele di Gregorio at Monza, however, may still have the Forest fanbase rueing the failure of that £8 million bid in June, the Italian going from strength to strength and threatening to force himself into Europe’s elite.
Nottingham Forest wanted Serie A goalkeeper
“We are very happy with Michele’s performance,” Carlo Alberto Belloni tells MonzApp, an admittedly somewhat biased narrator given that he is Di Gregorio’s agent (via Tuttomercatoweb)
“We are happy that the statistics lead him to be one of the best goalkeepers in Italy and Europe. It is always the result of great work that is done on the training pitch every day, with dedication and constant commitment.
“His strength is great application, and his desire to work and improve and never feel satisfied.”
Belloni’s comments come only a fortnight after he admitted to receiving ‘flattering’ offers from the Premier League. The Milan-born Di Gregorio, he adds, always planned to stay for at least another season at Monza, meaning Nottingham Forest were barking up the wrong tree from day one.
Guglielmo Vicario a Tottenham hero already
If Di Gregorio is now ‘one of the best’ in Serie A, meanwhile, then you can say the same of Guglielmo Vicario and the Premier League. The Tottenham glovesman was outstanding again as nine-man Spurs frustrated Chelsea for long spells on Monday, another talented shot-stopper showing Nottingham Forest what they could have had.
“Newcastle and Nottingham Forest stepped up in January,” Vicario’s father recently told Il Messaggero, confirming a winter approach from the two-time European champions.
“But Empoli wanted to postpone everything (and sell Vicario in) the summer.”
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