Tottenham Hotspur signed the goalkeeper in the summer but a first-team chance seems some way off.
When Tottenham Hotspur signed Paulo Gazzaniga from Southampton in the summer, the Argentine goalkeeper would have known he was some way off a first-team debut.
After all, Spurs have Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm on their books, leaving the new addition as a third-choice option at best, and we all know how that went for Pau Lopez last season. So when exactly will Tottenham supporters get to the see the 25-year-old in first-team action?
Unless injuries and suspensions strike, Gazzaniga could be the only one of Tottenham’s summer signings to be forced to wait a year or more for his first-team bow.
At that point, Vorm’s contract will be up and the Dutchman will surely leave North London in pursuit of the regular first-team football he needs at this stage of his career. Only then could Gazzaniga become second-choice stopper at Tottenham, allowing him to appear in cup competitions and act as understudy to Lloris.
The example of the Spurs man shows how patience is sometimes vital, especially when it comes to goalkeepers.
Halfway to 30, Gazzaniga is still miles away from becoming the undisputed number one at a major club. But he will know that he has Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term trust, and the Tottenham manager would not have signed him unless he had a specific plan in mind.
While Davinson Sanchez, Serge Aurier, Fernando Llorente and Juan Foyth have already made their Tottenham debuts, their fellow summer arrival could have to make to do with second string football for some time yet.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
