Guglielmo Vicario appears on course to become Tottenham's second signing of the summer in a £16.3million deal from Italian side Empoli
Guglielmo Vicario has the opportunity to become Tottenham's No.1 for years to come once he completes his transfer from Italian side Empoli. Needing to bring in Hugo Lloris' long-term successor this summer with the 36-year-old on the lookout for a new challenge after 11 years in north London, Spurs are closing in on the signing of the Italian for a reported €19million (£16.3million).
"I don't think I was just born into it," he explained during an interview with TLN TV. "I think it was because when you're small nobody wants to play in goal which is a shame. Nobody suggests that you become a goalkeeper. People focus on outfield players
"Most people think that scoring a goal is better than saving a shot. I go against the grain because I derive a lot of pleasure from the disappointment felt by players who fail to overcome obstacles. That's always driven me on. I've always wanted to have this role."
Making a huge impression for Empoli over the past two seasons, Vicario has come into Roberto Mancini's thinking for the Italian national team but he is still waiting to make his international debut despite a couple of call-ups. His rise all comes from working extremely hard on the training pitch day in, day out.
"I've learnt that you need to improve every day, I don't think you ever truly make it," he added. "People set themselves limits. You've got to strive for self improvement, trust in those who trust you and what you have to offer your teammates and vice-versa."
"Every day is an excuse to get better. Why do you train? You don't train just to say 'I've trained for a couple of hours' and that's it. You train to try to get better. In any other sport that's how it happens and football is no different as far as I'm concerned," he said in an interview with Open Goal on YouTube.
"If somebody wins the Masters in golf then the next day they're out there on the putting green practising their putting. Why are you practising your putting when you're the best golfer in the world? It's because that's what they have to do because they know fine margins are what make you better.
"Tennis players out there practising their serve or backhand. Footballers are no different. You come in every day and that period when you're out in the field or in the gym, or that period when you're sitting down with your coach going through your video, is an opportunity to improve.
"You're not going to improve a lot [in a single day] but just a little bit. So if you do that every day then that becomes part of who you are. Just walking in, doing your training, getting your bag and going home? No, every day is an opportunity to improve, for me, the players and everyone. So how do I continue to improve a team? By continuously focusing on that."
Providing of course that the deal doesn't hit any late hitches, Tottenham fans will get their first glimpse of Vicario during pre-season as they take on West Ham, Leicester City and AS Roma. The Italian's Premier League debut will then come on Sunday, August 13 when Tottenham make the trip across London to face Thomas Frank's Brentford.
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