From backup at Roma to starring against Real, Gollini eyes Mbappé and Vinicius

After years as a second‑choice keeper at Roma, Pierluigi Gollini now faces Real Madrid in the Champions League, while dreaming of matching the pace of Mbappé and the flair of Vinicius. The opportunity arrived when Mile Svilar’s injury was confirmed ahead of the Como‑Roma clash, forcing coach Gian Piero Gasperini to hand the gloves to the 1995‑born former Atalanta deputy.

Opportunity born from Svilar’s absence

Gasperini announced Svilar would miss at least a month, a heavy blow for the Roman side that had hoped to rely on the Serbian’s experience. The announcement sparked anxiety among Roma supporters, who feared a weakened defence for the lunchtime showdown.

Gollini, nicknamed the “rapper with gloves”, seized the moment, delivering a crucial save that denied the Como attack led by Fabregas. His intervention in the second half stopped a threatening ball from the playmaker, preserving Roma’s lead after the dismissal of Malen.

In the same match, Gollini also parried a powerful central strike from a Madrid forward, showcasing the composure that had eluded him during his years shuffling jerseys across Atalanta, Tottenham, Fiorentina, Napoli and Genoa.

From backup to Champions League starter

The rapid transition from understudy to starter culminated three days later when Roma faced Real Madrid, featuring galacticos Mbappé and Vinicius. Gollini’s performance against the Spanish giants marked a fairy‑tale moment, echoing the myth of Daedalus and Icarus, as he stood tall against world‑class attackers.

His journey began in the 2019‑20 season when he earned two minutes for Italy against Bosnia‑Herzegovina, shortly after Atalanta’s first Champions League campaign. A later cruciate ligament injury in a Lisbon quarter‑final against PSG halted his progress, and a strained relationship with Gasperini saw him drift between clubs before returning to Roma in January 2025.

Now, with the Champions League spotlight and the prospect of confronting Mbappé and Vinicius, Gollini’s story intertwines with the broader media landscape: Calcio, Champions, Highlights, Live, Video, Foto, Tennis, Drive, MotoGp, Pressing, Sportmediaset, XXL, News, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Formula, Sport, Lifestyle, Scudetti, Area, Help, Faq, Info, Cookie, Policy, ROMA and Roma all feature in the coverage surrounding his rise.