How is Guglielmo Vicario doing? Luciano Spalletti provides an update following his injury
Guglielmo Vicario made his Serie A debut for Juventus, starting in the Bianconeri’s 1-0 win at Frosinone. However, the former Empoli and Tottenham goalkeeper gave his new fans a scare when he had to leave the field due to an injury in the 91st minute. Replaced by Mattia Perin (who is, incidentally, on his way out), Luciano Spalletti clarified his condition.
“Vicario’s issue isn’t serious. Just cramps. There was a moment when he felt the muscle in his leg was straining too much, so we decided to substitute him,” Spalletti told ‘DAZN’. And Juventus is breathing a huge sigh of relief. This extends to the transfer market as well: with the acquisition of Vicario, the departure of Michele Di Gregorio, and rumors linking Perin to Palermo, another shake-up between the posts would have been a significant problem.
On the field, the win over Frosinone came thanks to a header by Bremer in the 22nd minute off a corner kick by Conceição, but the Bianconeri’s overall performance left more than a few questions. Kolo Muani squandered at least two glaring chances in one-on-one situations with Palmisani, Conceiçao failed to double the lead on several occasions, and in stoppage time, Perin—who had just come on for Vicario—saw Raimondo hit the crossbar off a corner kick by Calò, a final scare that made an already hard-fought victory even more precarious.
Vicario’s departure could inevitably put the spotlight back on the goalkeeper market at Juventus. The starting goalkeeper—who arrived on a free loan from Tottenham through June 30, 2027, with an option to buy set at 8 million euros—plus an additional 2 million tied to achieving certain objectives—will need to be evaluated by the Bianconeri’s medical staff in the coming hours, given the unusual nature of cramps for a goalkeeper. His potential unavailability could accelerate—and, if necessary, alter—certain decisions regarding player departures, starting with Perin’s situation.
The Ligurian goalkeeper has received a concrete and attractive offer from Palermo: a two-year contract with an option to extend and a salary higher than the current 1.5 million euros he earns at Juventus, in addition to the prospect of regaining the playing time that, as a backup in Turin, has inevitably been denied him. The Rosanero, who lost Jesse Joronen to a right shoulder injury sustained in the Coppa Italia match against Lecce, are in urgent need of a goalkeeper. Should Perin accept the offer, Juventus would be forced to return to the transfer market to find a backup for Vicario.
Among the players being monitored by Continassa for the backup goalkeeper role are Santiago Beltrán of River Plate—considered the heir to Dibu Martínez in the Argentine national team and holding an Italian passport— and Christos Mandas, a Greek goalkeeper born in 2001 who is owned by Lazio and highly regarded by Spalletti and his staff. The possibility of signing Vanja Milinkovic-Savic—currently with Napoli, where he does not appear to be part of Massimiliano Allegri’s plans—cannot be ruled out either. In recent hours, the name of Lucas Perri has also emerged; he is a Brazilian goalkeeper set to leave Leeds, and Juventus reportedly made an inquiry about a loan deal, thereby bypassing Torino, which had already reached an agreement with the English club.
Meanwhile, on the midfield front, the situation appears to be nearing a resolution. Fabio Miretti is now set to leave: Juventus and Besiktas have agreed to send the 2003-born player to Turkey on loan with an option to buy, at the explicit request of Vincenzo Italiano. Miretti’s departure paves the way for the arrival of Franck Kessié, a free agent from Ivory Coast who has already reached an agreement with Juventus: despite Al-Ittihad’s attempt to sign him, the former Barcelona player appears set on choosing Juventus and returning to Serie A, thereby completing the midfield lineup Spalletti has been seeking.
