Former Italy and Inter goalkeeper Walter Zenga believes Luciano Spalletti should stick to Gigio Donnarumma as Italy’s starter even if ‘everyone’s talking about Guglielmo Vicario now.’
Donnarumma is having a tough time at PSG as he has been blamed for goals conceded against Monaco and Newcastle and was sent off in his latest Ligue 1 appearance against Le Havre this past Sunday.
Former Azzurri and Inter star Zenga analysed the performances of the ex-Milan keeper in an interview with Il Corriere dello Sport on Tuesday.
“He has been unlucky to face two or three negative situations lately and he doesn’t seem to be at the peak of his form, but I think he can overcome these things,” said the Uomo Ragno.
“I don’t know who the PSG goalkeeper coach is. Gianluca Spinelli left last summer to join Inter. Systems can change. We have three Italian goalkeepers playing abroad [including Donnarumma]. Vicario in the Premier League and [Alberto] Brigonoli in Greece with Panathinaikos are doing well with foreign coaches.”
Donnarumma has particularly been struggling with the ball at his feet, but Zenga feels this is something the ex-Milan keeper can solve.
“We can’t expect Gigio to be perfect in everything. When he is in a tricky situation or opponents press him, he can look for an easy pass or play a long ball, it’s not difficult and he can do it,” he said.
“Any goalkeeper, in Serie B or in the national team, must be able to put errors aside. They need the personality to get over a bad performance with hard work.”
Therefore, the former Italy international doesn’t expect Spalletti to replace Donnarumma as Italy’s starting goalkeeper anytime soon.
“I don’t see a change today. I feel Donnarumma has fulfilled his duties with the national team. He made some errors with the club, but Spalletti will make his assessments,” he said.
“Donnarumma is not even 25 and already has 60 international caps. I know it because he has just surpassed me. If we include games with Milan and PSG, it makes nearly 340 competitive matches. I made 473 appearances in 12 years at Inter. It was a different football, but it’s a big amount for his age. He has formidable experience.
“Everyone speaks about Vicario now. I consider him one of my sons and I believe he’s a strong keeper. He became a starter with me at Venezia. He is two [three] years older [than Donnarumma] but he has never played in European competitions. He has just started in the Premier League, a tough league, but Donnarumma is accustomed to pressure and knows how to deal with them. He reacted when he was booed at San Siro.
“We have many great keepers. I think of Ivan Provedel, who also knows how to score, Michele Di Gregorio, Wladimiro Falcone, Marco Turati and Elia Caprile. I’d like to mention Mattia Perin and Marco Carnesecchi too even if they are not playing regularly.”
Donnarumma has kept nine clean sheets in 19 appearances with PSG this season, conceding 18 goals while Vicario conceded has conceded 20 times in 14 Tottenham games, keeping four clean sheets.