Juventus Close to Deal for Goalkeeper Vicario
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Juventus appears to be on the verge of resolving its long-running search for a new goalkeeper, with reports indicating that the club has reached an agreement with Guglielmo Vicario.
The Italian shot-stopper, who currently plays for Tottenham in the English Premier League, is said to be close to completing a move to Turin.
According to sources, an agreement in principle has been reached between Juventus and Vicario himself, with a deal between the two clubs now reportedly close to being finalised.
The pursuit of a new goalkeeper has proven to be one of the more complicated storylines of Juventus's summer transfer window.
The club had previously explored several other options, including a move for Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson, which failed to materialise.
A separate attempt to sign Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki also collapsed before any agreement could be reached.
Juventus reportedly also considered Emiliano 'Dibu' MartÃnez, the Argentine goalkeeper known for his performances at international tournaments.
However, the club is said to harbour reservations about pursuing that particular option, effectively ruling him out as a realistic target.
Vicario, who represents the Italian national team and is affectionately referred to as 'l'azzurro' by Italian media, would mark a homecoming of sorts if the transfer is completed.
Should the move go through, he would return to Italian football after a spell in the Premier League with Tottenham.
For Juventus, securing a reliable goalkeeper has reportedly been treated as a priority this summer, following a period of uncertainty in that position.
While an official announcement has not yet been made, the reported agreement between Vicario and Juventus suggests the club may finally be nearing a resolution to its goalkeeper search.
The final stages of negotiations between Juventus and Tottenham are expected to determine the transfer fee and other terms of the deal.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely in the coming days to see whether the reported agreement translates into an official signing.
Vocabulary7 words
- goalkeeper
- the player who stops the ball at the goal
- agreement in principle
- a deal that both sides accept but is not yet finished on paper
- transfer window
- the time period when clubs can buy and sell players
- reservations
- doubts about something
- national team
- the team that represents a country
- priority
- something treated as very important, done first
- negotiations
- talks to reach a business deal
Quiz
Answer key
1. Italian 2. Emiliano 'Dibu' MartÃnez 3. False
Discussion questions
- What factors might explain why several earlier goalkeeper deals fell through for Juventus?
- Why might a club have 'reservations' about signing a particular player despite his talent?
- How significant is a goalkeeper's role compared to other positions on a team?
- What impact might national team reputation have on a player's market value?