Loaned back to Italy six months after Aston Villa bought him from Hellas Verona for over £4m, Pierluigi Gollini has seen his chances at Atalanta fairly limited this season.
Making just two appearances all season, playing backup to Etrit Berisha, who was brought in from Lazio over the summer, the Villain was given a rare chance this week against his former club.
In fact, playing him against Hellas Verona was probably the best thing his manager could have done, as this gave him extra motivation to get a result, and it showed.
Making some crucial saves throughout the game, the Aston Villa loanee managed to keep a clean sheet as his team ran away with a 3-0 win.
Speaking to Tuttosport, Gollini said: “For me, it was a special game as an ex-Verona player. It was nice to help the team out. We had enough possession in the first half without doing anything with it.
“We came back out more determined for the second half, we managed to score a goal and control the game.”
With Udinese on the horizon, it remains to be seen if the 22-year-old will keep his spot in the team, although he’s done nothing to prove he shouldn’t be.
As Atalanta edge towards qualification for the Europa League first knockout round, he’ll certainly get more chances, as Berisha has conceded 12 goals in eight league games this season.
Gollini? One in two appearances.
The more he plays, the better it is for Aston Villa, after all.
“I was punished like a criminal” Former Aston Villa star accuses O’Neill of messing him around. #AVFC https://t.co/vYMCAr3wWX pic.twitter.com/jYgkifFZ0n
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) October 27, 2017
