For a goalkeeper, this must be like receiving a compliment from God himself. And if Gianluigi Buffon is right about a shot-stopper he feels already belongs amongst the Serie A elite, then Newcastle United or Nottingham Forest could be getting themselves quite the glovesman.
Last year, shortly after Nottingham Forest reportedly saw an £8 million bid rejected, the Premier League-linked colossus was labelled ‘one of the best goalkeepers in Europe‘, albeit from the rather biased source that is his own representative.
“We are very happy with his performance,” Carlo Alberto Belloni told MonzApp of his highly-rated client, the Monza number one Michele di Gregorio. (via Tuttomercatoweb).
“We are happy that the statistics lead him to be one of the best goalkeepers in Italy and Europe. It is always the result of great work that is done on the training pitch every day, with dedication and constant commitment.
“His strength is great application, and his desire to work and improve and never feel satisfied.”
Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United linked
Despite bringing in Matz Sels from Strasbourg in the winter, it is not out of the realms of possibility that Nottingham Forest look to secure the services of yet another shot-stopper come the summer.
HITC understands that Athletico Paranaense ace Bento is already on Forest’s wishlist, doubts swirling over the futures of Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos after both fell down the pecking order at the City Ground.
Newcastle United, HITC have been told, are also in the market for a number one. Eddie Howe appears keen to bring in a younger option, a more technically-gifted ‘keeper with greater distribution than the somewhat old-school Nick Pope.
There is interest in Arsenal back up Aaron Ramsdale and Valencia talisman Giorgi Mamardashvili. At a reported £18 million, however, Di Gregorio should come cheaper than both, and with the gleaming adoration of arguably the modern era’s greatest goalkeeper still ringing in his ears.
Gianluigi Buffon issues massive praise
“I think he had two sensational seasons, confirming himself as one of the best goalkeepers ever,” is Gianluigi Buffon’s jaw-slackening assessment of a man allegedly emerging as Juventus’ number one target to replace the long-serving Wojciech Szczesny (Fabrizio Romano).
“If Juve take him, it means he belongs to Juve.”
Still only 26, one-time Inter Milan prospect Di Gregorio is yet to make his debut for Italy’s national team with PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario fighting for the first spot.
A move away from an ambitious but mid-table Monza outfit would do his hopes of international recognition no harm, of course, with former Azzurri ace Gianluigi Pagliuca backing Di Gregorio to follow in his footsteps.
“He’s not that tall but he’s very good. An excellent goalkeeper,” Pagliuca, Italy’s goalkeeper at both the 1994 and the 1998 World Cups, tells TMW. “He attacks the ball and faces the attacker one-on-one. You never see him passive between the posts.
“His time will come. In the meantime, he must already be happy to go to Juventus. He is 26 years old and perhaps, from September, he could join the national team”