With reports claiming Milan’s AC and Inter are going head to head for the signature of an Atalanta star, you’d be forgiven for assuming it was Luis Muriel, Duvan Zapata or Robin Gosens at the heart of a cross-city transfer tussle.
Instead it’s a goalkeeper, who has featured in just one of the last five Serie A matches after being dropped by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who has two of the biggest clubs in Italy on his tail.
According to Calciomercato, AC Milan have identified Pierluigi Gollini as a potential successor for Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the Rossoneri academy graduate yet to extend a contract that expires in July.
Serie A leaders Inter, meanwhile, have placed Gollini on their shortlist too as they prepare for life without 36-year-old captain Samir Handanovic.
Now, that isn’t to say Aston Villa fans should grab a torch and join their Newcastle counterparts in a march against the embattled Steve Bruce.
But Villa fans would surely love an explanation why Bruce sold one of Europe’s most talented shot-stoppers to Atalanta for just £3.75 million in summer 2018 (BBC).
Yes, Gollini endured a baptism of fire during his debut season in England, dropped for Mark Gunn midway through the campaign after a number of high-profile errors.
But, as a certain David de Gea will tell you, adapting to life in one of Europe’s most physical and unforgiving leagues is no easy task for a young, inexperienced shot-stopper. Patience is a virtue – and Gollini was shown none of that in the Midlands.
Three years on from his disappointing, short-lived spell at Aston Villa, Gollini is now an Italy international, one of Serie A’s finest shot-stoppers and, thanks to his European exploits in 2019/20, proven at the very highest level of Champions League football.
Calciomercato doesn’t make it clear how much Atalanta want for Gollini as AC Milan and Inter battle for his signature.
But we can guarantee he’ll cost a lot more than £3.75 million.
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