Juventus signed Vicario on a season-long loan from Tottenham on 17 August. In the same breath, Luciano Spalletti named the men he had wanted first.
“We probably thought, by having an experienced goalkeeper like Alisson, Martinez and so on, because they were the names we were looking for, we would still have something more in terms of experience, but Vicario has also won competitions, he has had experience abroad at a very important club, so we are at that level,” Spalletti told reporters at the Allianz Stadium.
The 29-year-old Italy international traveled to Turin for his medical the same day, with the deal worth around €10.5m in fees and add-ons and carrying a buy option that is not mandatory.
Tottenham blocked the loan first
The move only came together after two collapsed pursuits and a shift in position from Tottenham. Spurs first rejected Juventus’s approach because the Italians wanted a straight loan with no obligation to buy, according to reporting published on 16 August.
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Juventus turned to Aston Villa. That negotiation stalled over Villa’s €15m valuation of Martinez and cooled further as Juventus grew wary of a hand injury that could sideline the Argentine for months.
With no alternative left, both sides moved. Tottenham accepted a loan carrying a non-mandatory purchase option, and Juventus completed the deal within days.
Vicario left a squad that had moved past him
Vicario asked Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi for permission to return to Italy after three years in north London, during which he made 117 appearances and won the Europa League. Antonin Kinsky has been installed as De Zerbi’s first-choice goalkeeper, with Martin Dubravka joining on a free transfer as cover.
Spalletti addressed the difficult end to Vicario’s Spurs spell.
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“The last period hasn’t been so positive because we don’t know what happened at Tottenham, but he’s an excellent player,” Spalletti said.
He was clear about what he expects now.
“Vicario is a mature, intelligent, professional player. He’s got pedigree, one of those players who thinks about the sport even when he goes home in his spare time. He remains a top goalkeeper.”
Vicario now competes with Michele Di Gregorio for the Juventus No 1 shirt. Di Gregorio has reportedly attracted interest from Olympique de Marseille as Juventus reshape their goalkeeping room around the new arrival.
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