Juventus Sign Guglielmo Vicario on Loan from Tottenham
Juventus have finally closed the door on Emiliano Martínez and kicked another one wide open for Guglielmo Vicario.
After weeks of hard bargaining with Aston Villa, the Italians walked away the moment it became clear the Premier League club would not move from their €15m (£12.8m) valuation. No discount, no compromise, no deal.
So Juventus pivoted. Fast.
According to The Athletic, on Monday they struck a total agreement with Tottenham to bring Vicario back to Serie A, a homecoming for the 29-year-old just a year after he left Italy for north London.
This is not a blockbuster permanent signing, but a calculated play. As reported by Tuttosport, the deal is a loan with a non-mandatory €10.5m (£9m) purchase option. Juventus can watch him for a full season, test him in their system, and only then decide whether to trigger the clause. After the stand-off over Martínez, it is a far cheaper, far more flexible solution.
For Tottenham, the move underlines a new era under Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian coach has already settled on Antonin Kinsky as his preferred number one, and Vicario – once seen as Hugo Lloris’s heir – has slipped down the pecking order.
His time in England never quite settled into a smooth rhythm. Signed from Empoli for around €20m, Vicario initially impressed, showing sharp reflexes and confidence with the ball at his feet. But last season turned choppy. Costly errors crept in, then a hernia operation in March saw him lose his starting place. By the end of the campaign, his future at Spurs looked fragile.
Now he walks into one of the most demanding goalkeeping jobs in European football.
His arrival in Turin immediately disturbs the existing hierarchy. Vicario is expected to claim the starting spot, which throws a harsh light on Michele Di Gregorio’s situation. According to Fabrizio Romano, Juventus have already offered the current keeper to Marseille and other European clubs on loan, a clear sign of where the club sees its future between the posts.
This is not just about shot-stopping. Luciano Spalletti has pushed hard for a goalkeeper who can build from the back, someone comfortable taking risks with the ball and setting the tempo of attacks. Vicario showed that profile in flashes during his early months at Tottenham, when his distribution and bravery under pressure drew praise.
His form tailed off as last season wore on, but inside Juventus there is a belief that a return to the tactical, structured environment of Serie A can sharpen his decision-making and restore his confidence. The club see a keeper who knows the league, understands its rhythms, and can grow into a long-term solution if the loan works.
Vicario’s signing slots into a wider reconstruction of the Old Lady’s defence. Jhon Lucumí has already arrived from Bologna, another piece in a backline being reshaped to fit Spalletti’s ideas. New centre-back, new goalkeeper, new way of playing out – Juventus are not tinkering, they are rewiring.
For Vicario, it is a second chance at the highest level and a return to a league that once showcased his rise. For Juventus, it is a bet that a goalkeeper bruised by England can become the calm, commanding presence their new project demands.
