MusaGuglielmo Vicario has opened up about his short time working with Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur, describing the Italian manager as a man of his word following his summer departure from north London.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper joined Juventus on loan during the summer transfer window, with the deal reportedly including a £8.5 million (€10m) option to make the move permanent. His exit came after he lost his place as Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper to Antonin Kinsky.
Tottenham initially signed Vicario from Empoli for £17.2 million in June 2023 as a replacement for long-serving captain Hugo Lloris. However, injuries restricted his involvement towards the end of his final season, meaning he missed all but the club’s last two matches and never featured under De Zerbi.
The Italian manager subsequently handed Kinsky an opportunity to establish himself as Tottenham’s number one, and the Czech goalkeeper has continued to hold on to that position.
Meanwhile, Vicario has begun a new chapter in Italy with Juventus. On Sunday evening, he conceded the only shot on target he faced during a dramatic 1-1 draw against AC Milan at the Allianz Stadium.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Vicario was asked about his relationship with De Zerbi. According to The Independent, the former Tottenham goalkeeper had positive words for his compatriot, praising his honesty and support during a difficult period.
“Fantastic, from the first day,” Vicario said. “I thanked him personally on the day I signed for Juventus. With me, he was a real person, direct and, above all, a man of his word.
“He gave me the opportunity to take this step that I had in mind. He supported me, and I will always be grateful to him.”
Despite his appreciation for De Zerbi, Vicario hinted that circumstances behind the scenes contributed to his departure from Tottenham after three seasons at the club.
Although he stopped short of revealing the full details, the goalkeeper suggested that certain issues had made it difficult for things to continue as expected.
“There have been some dynamics that have not aligned, probably for several reasons that make no sense to mention now,” he added.
Vicario was not the only former Tottenham player to move to Juventus, with Randal Kolo Muani also joining the Italian giants after spending the previous season on loan in north London.
The French striker featured in Juventus’ weekend encounter but was unable to find the back of the net.
Kolo Muani also reflected on his experience in England during an interview with Corriere della Sera, explaining how the Premier League differs from Italian football in terms of intensity and tactical demands.
“English football is really a continuous box-to-box, from one penalty area to another, while in Italy the game is extremely tactical,” he explained.
“You have to play with your head and not just with your feet. And then you work hard during the weekly training sessions, but I feel good.”
The 27-year-old endured a frustrating spell at Tottenham, scoring just once in 30 appearances during a Premier League campaign in which the club struggled against relegation.
However, Kolo Muani insists that his disappointing return in front of goal has not left him dwelling on the past. Instead, the forward is determined to concentrate on his performances and make the most of his opportunity in Italy.
“I’m someone who doesn’t drag negative thoughts with me,” he said.
“I work to forget the mistake immediately and focus on the next move. As Spalletti tells us, we must always stay on top of things. You have to think about the present.”
Musa
