IF Tottenham felt the venomous outbursts would end with Antonio Conte’s exit, they were wrong.Because new goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is known for having quite the temper himself.
Guglielmo Vicario with team-mate Destiny Udogie as they take part in a kids’ training session with the Telethon Charity in Perth on Tottenham’s tour
So much so that back in his homeland of Italy, he was dubbed ‘Venom’, after the furious comic superhero character played by Tom Hardy.
Vicario, who joined Spurs from Serie A side Empoli for £16million last month, explained: “It was made by two guys from (broadcaster) DAZN in Italy.
“They told me: ‘When you play on the pitch sometimes you get angry, you feel angry, so you feel like Venom’. Also Venom starts with V, Vicario starts with V.”
Asked how his supposed anger manifests itself on the pitch, the 26-year-old elaborated: “I shout, maybe. My facial expression can change in some critical moments of the game.
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“I hope to do this not many times, because I think we have a big squad, so I trust in my lads.”
Spurs fans had plenty to fume about last season as their side finished eighth, outside Europe, with Conte sealing an acrimonious exit in March.
Everything seems calmer now the more diplomatic Ange Postecoglou is in charge.
The Australian, 57, took the long road to the top, managing in his home country, Japan and Scotland before finally reaching the Premier League with Spurs.
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Vicario has travelled a similarly scenic route to England’s top flight, working his way up the divisions in Italy.
Back in the 2014-15 campaign, when Harry Kane hit 21 Premier League goals to become the star of Mauricio Pochettino’s first season as Spurs boss, Vicario was on loan in Serie D with minnows Fontanafredda.
The Udine-born stopper, whose childhood hero was Gianluigi Buffon, said: “Serie D to Tottenham is like a dream for me. I’m inside of my dream, I want to live my dream.
“(The manager and I) started from the bottom to reach the top and for us I think it’s a big success of courage. A big mentality.
“Coming up from the bottom is not so easy. It’s a big challenge with myself and himself and I think we have to be happy for our process.”
Vicario, 26, spoke in flawless English as he took part in a kids’ coaching session while on Spurs’ pre-season tour to Perth, Australia.
It is a far cry from the more local warm-up friendlies he experienced at the likes of Venezia, Cagliari, Perugia and Empoli.
He added: “I need to adapt because Spurs is a big club. We have many, many fans so it’s different. It’s the first time in my life.
“When I was in Serie D it was impossible to see it like this.”
Vicario, who has been called up to Italy in recent months but is yet to receive a cap, may show his wrathful side on the pitch.
But off it there is evidence of his kind-hearted nature by the fact that he and his family have taken in a Ukrainian refugee mother and child who have fled their war-torn homeland.
Vicario has struck up a particularly close relationship with the 11-year-old son, named Milan.
The stopper added: “He is my little brother.
“When I come back to Udine to see my family, I spend some time with him. He is good. He is going to school, he learns Italian.
“I hope he feels good because in Ukraine now the situation is not so good with the war.
“So we try to give a smile to these people and I hope they don’t [have to] think to the situation of their country.
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“When I go to the pitch, thinking about them is important. It’s like a strength it can give.”
Vicario was speaking at a Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Development session with beneficiaries from Telethon, one of the largest charities in WA that raises funds to deliver programmes for sick, vulnerable, and disadvantaged children. The participants were also invited to the team’s open training session in Perth from which all proceeds will be donated to Telethon. More
