Michelangelo Rampulla has spent a career inside Italian football’s goalkeeping world at the highest level. As a player he won Serie A titles with Juventus; as a coach he worked at the club’s academy. When he speaks about goalkeepers, he speaks from authority. And his verdict on the current state of affairs at the Continassa — delivered exclusively to TuttoJuve — is as unsparing as it is illuminating.
“I Wouldn’t Want to Be in Di Gregorio’s Position Right Now”
The interview opened with the obvious question: after the Inter friendly in Perth exposed Di Gregorio’s fragilities yet again, how does he recover from this situation? Rampulla’s answer left no room for diplomatic softening.
“Honestly? I would not want to be in Di Gregorio‘s position right now. Every hour a new goalkeeper’s name comes out as someone stronger than him — how is he supposed to concentrate and work properly in those conditions? Today it would be hard even for Dino Zoff, the model I used to aspire to. He was always calm and composed — but even he would have struggled if he had felt constantly under discussion.”
He acknowledged the realities of the modern media environment before delivering his verdict: “Zidane would probably have been written off after two matches. We would have lost him, Platini, and Nedved. They would not have been given the time to recover. I say this generally — but speaking specifically about Di Gregorio, it is clear that he has to leave from here.”
“Suzuki? When Did Juventus Become a PSG Feeder Club? I’d Sooner Recall Buffon”
On the goalkeeping alternatives circulating in the media, Rampulla was characteristically blunt — and occasionally startling. The Suzuki-on-loan-from-PSG option attracted the sharpest fire:
“I don’t want either Suzuki or Trubin. Let me start with Suzuki: since when has Juventus become a satellite club of PSG? Come on — that makes no sense at all. I would sooner recall Gigi (Buffon) and persuade him to come back.” He then delivered the line that defines his entire position: “The investment on the goalkeeper should have been made earlier — with Donnarumma. Instead you preferred to give money to Szczesny and sacrificed the future for the present. Now what do you do? You want Martínez who is 34? I would do everything to sign Carnesecchi at any cost — offering David or other players. I won’t take Trubin or the Japanese goalkeeper. But I already know how this will end.”
“Play Perin for Life — He Won’t Win You Leagues, but He Won’t Cost You Points”
Rampulla’s most constructive suggestion was also his most contrarian: simply play Mattia Perin. “Rather than waste money pointlessly, I would play Perin as first choice indefinitely. He is reliable, experienced, and knows this environment inside out. Don’t ride the wave of emotion over Suzuki who made a good save at the World Cup. Alongside Mattia I would put a young goalkeeper as his deputy — someone who can become the number one of the future.” And then the line that captures his entire philosophy: “Let’s cut out the hypocrisy — the best goalkeeper is the one who doesn’t cost you points. He doesn’t win you championships. The team makes the difference.”
“The Club Needs Italian Character — Not Just Italian Players”
The interview’s final and most substantive passage concerned the broader question of Italian identity in the squad. Rampulla’s frustration that Carnevali’s arrival had promised a Made in Italy renaissance that has not materialised was evident.
“Yes, I am fairly surprised. Juventus’s winning cycles had top Italian players — and Inter today are winning with Bastoni, Dimarco, and Frattesi. I saw that Como bought Liberali for a figure that was far from astronomical. Why couldn’t a big club like Juventus have moved earlier on those investments? The story of wanting to win immediately doesn’t hold either — we saw that with David, Openda, and Zhegrova, paid enormous fees and wages, and it didn’t work. The concept is clear to me: you need an Italian core to win again.”
On Lucumí specifically: “He is a good player. But Juventus right now needs genuine leaders — players who are strong mentally as well as technically. The technical side you can improve. Character you are born with.”
