Juventus goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has shed some light on the circumstances surrounding his summer move away from Tottenham Hotspur, hinting that internal factors at the London club played a role in his decision to leave, despite still being under contract until 2028.
Speaking to Sky Italy this week, the Italian shot-stopper was deliberately vague about the specifics, choosing not to elaborate on what exactly led to his exit. "There have been some dynamics that have not aligned, probably for several reasons that make no sense to mention now," Vicario said, leaving the door open for speculation but declining to name names or point fingers.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding his departure, Vicario was eager to set the record straight about his relationship with Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi, a fellow Italian who never actually gave him a single minute on the pitch during his time at the club. Rather than harboring any resentment, Vicario spoke warmly of the manager, praising his integrity and the opportunity he provided to make the switch to Juventus.
"Fantastic, from the first day. I thank him, I did it personally the day I signed with Juventus," Vicario said of De Zerbi. "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."
The comments suggest that whatever tensions may have existed behind the scenes at Tottenham, they were not rooted in any personal conflict between Vicario and De Zerbi. Instead, the goalkeeper's words point to a broader, unspecified set of circumstances that ultimately convinced him a fresh start was the right move, even as he remains contractually tied to Spurs for the coming years and could theoretically return to the club at the conclusion of the season.
Since making the switch back to Italian football, Vicario has enjoyed an encouraging start to life with Juventus. Returning to Serie A for the first time since departing Empoli in 2023, he has quickly established himself between the posts for the Bianconeri, keeping two clean sheets across his opening three league appearances.
Those shutouts came against Frosinone and Parma, where Vicario was unbeaten and untroubled at the back. His only blemish so far arrived in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with AC Milan, a result that nonetheless demonstrated his growing importance to the Juventus backline in what has otherwise been a productive opening chapter of his return to Italian football.
With only one goal conceded in three matches, Vicario's early performances have offered a reassuring sign for Juventus supporters that the club has recruited a goalkeeper capable of anchoring their defense at the highest level. His composed displays have arrived at a time when questions were bound to be asked about his motivations for leaving the Premier League, and his willingness to speak candidly, if not fully transparently, about the Tottenham chapter of his career suggests a player keen to move forward without burning bridges.
Whether the specific "dynamics" he referenced will ever be fully explained remains to be seen, but for now, Vicario appears focused on building on his strong start in Turin while maintaining respect for those who helped facilitate his transfer, De Zerbi chief among them.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (standard-football).