Fortunately, Odysseas Vlachodimos’ Nottingham Forest debut could hardly have gone any better. A clean sheet in a 2-0 win over high-flying Aston Villa, a couple of commanding catches, the odd save, and no mistakes to speak of.
Amid the growing narrative around Matt Turner – another high-profile error gifting Mo Salah of all people a goal against Liverpool – that Villa display at least suggests that Steve Cooper does still have a reliable number one on his books.
The seemingly unstoppable rise of Michele di Gregorio at Monza, however, may still have the Forest fanbase rueing the failure of that £8 million bid in June, the Italian going from strength to strength and threatening to force himself into Europe’s elite.
“We are very happy with Michele’s performance,” Carlo Alberto Belloni tells MonzApp, an admittedly somewhat biased narrator given that he is Di Gregorio’s agent (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.”
Belloni’s comments come only a fortnight after he admitted to receiving ‘flattering’ offers from the Premier League. The Milan-born Di Gregorio, he adds, always planned to stay for at least another season at Monza, meaning Nottingham Forest were barking up the wrong tree from day one.
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