Former Inter goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca defended Gianluigi Donnarumma, explaining why he’s a secure pair of palms for Italy on the European Championship.
The 25-year-old Italian shot stopper would be the primary for the Azzurri on the upcoming match in Germany, sustaining his beginning spot after one other robust marketing campaign in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
Donnarumma, who was one of many gamers of the match at Euro 2020, continues to be a determine of ire amongst many Azzurri followers, regardless of having made 61 caps for the nationwide group. Many have been fast to level out his inconsistencies with the ball at his toes and he’s usually criticised by the press.
Pagliuca defends Donnarumma
Chatting with TMW, Pagliuca first weighed in on Donnarumma’s 2023-24 season forward of the European Championship.
“A beautiful season. He received Ligue 1 and the French Cup, he had a wonderful run within the Champions League. I noticed all his matches, he was all the time vital and decisive.
“He’s an excellent man, together with his head on his shoulders. He deserves to be the goalkeeper of our nationwide group.”
He’s assured that the 25-year-old is able to put on the captain’s armband.
“He already has a whole lot of expertise within the nationwide group, he may be thought-about a mature goalkeeper. He has the fitting character to be a captain.”
Pagliuca commented on the expansion of Donnarumma underneath Luis Enrique.
“As a result of with Luis Enrique he’s now not in query, Pochettino did every thing fallacious within the first yr, alternating him with Keylor Navas.
“However the reality is that he has all the time accomplished properly, it’s simply that many in Italy haven’t forgiven him for the selection he made, particularly Milan followers, they usually can’t watch for him to screw one thing as much as assault him. Even the press has all the time been very harsh in the direction of him.”
He believes the Italian goalkeeper to be one of many strongest gamers on the upcoming European Championship.
“He will likely be among the best, unquestionably. Then three years in the past he pulled off an unimaginable European Championship and even received the very best participant award. This time I hope one other Italian will win it, maybe a striker.”
Pagliuca weighed in on the expansion of Guglielmo Vicario.
“He made an unimaginable leap, he went from the combat to keep away from relegation to the Champions League battle. And he did it very properly, his first yr in England was constructive and I agree with Spalletti. Vicario deserves to be the backup to Donnarumma.”
He doesn’t suppose Vicario can problem Donnarumma’s beginning spot.
“I don’t suppose so. Vicario is just a few years older than Donnarumma and Gigio, who’s deservedly our primary in the present day, has ample room for enchancment. Then clearly some issues can come up and we’re fantastic with him, however let Vicario take away Donnarumma’s beginning place, I discover that robust.”
He was requested to decide on between Alex Meret and Ivan Provedel.
“Provedel had a terrific season, despite the fact that he received harm and solely returned within the ultimate matches. He’s improved lots, I’ve all the time adopted him since his time at Perugia and he made a notable leap in high quality at Lazio.
“Meret had a considerably up-and-down season, however he’s coming off some wonderful years. In my view, Spalletti will select Meret, as a result of he had him at Napoli and since Provedel was injured for 2 months.”
Pagliuca was requested why Michele Di Gregorio wasn’t included within the Italy squad.
“Possibly due to his physique, as a result of he’s not that tall. However he’s excellent, a wonderful goalkeeper. He assaults the ball and faces the attacker one-on-one, you by no means see him passive between the posts.
“His time will come, within the meantime he should already be completely satisfied to go to Juventus, he’s 26 years outdated and maybe from September he may be a part of the nationwide group”
He commented on the event of Marco Carnesecchi.
“He has improved lots, he has matured. At Cremonese he tended to reject the ball, to dam it little, whereas with the belief Gasperini has positioned in him, he has made notable progress in these fundamentals.
“However from right here to say that he can put everybody he can deal with the others in line, there are wonderful goalkeepers in entrance of him.”
Pagliuca was requested if the Italian faculty of goalkeeping was nonetheless among the best on the earth.
“Lately a number of have emerged, and it makes me very completely satisfied. There was a interval after Buffon during which we had a void behind Donnarumma. And as a substitute look now, even among the many younger gamers, we’re in good palms.”
Lastly, Pagliuca mentioned how far Italy can go at Euro 2024.
“Repeating issues may be very sophisticated, however after every thing that has occurred right here we’re once more… Spalletti is the fitting man, he has enthusiasm and I’m satisfied that Italy can at the least attain the semi-finals.”
