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Aston Villa Season In Review: Pierluigi Gollini

By Phil Newman

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Pierluigi Gollini of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic at Villa Park on December 10, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Pierluigi Gollini of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic at Villa Park on December 10, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images) /
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Roberto Di Matteo’s number one goalkeeper found Villa life tough after his dismissal. Steve Bruce was not nearly as impressed with 22-year old Pierluigi Gollini, so the club loaned him to Atalanta on an eighteen month deal.

GK – Pierluigi Gollini, 22

League Appearances: 20

Goals Against Average: 0.85

WhoScored Rating: 6.58

Ah, Pierluigi Gollini. We spoke of Mark Bunn being an enigma during his time at Aston Villa, but it’s Pierluigi Gollini that really confounds supporters. Despite the claret and blues struggle during Gollini’s reign, he performed fairly well for a 21-year old (at the time) playing away from his native Italy.

In total, Gollini recorded a 0.85 goals against average in the Championship – pretty good! More so for a £5 million signing, expected to be the club’s long-term number one goalkeeper. Alas, Di Matteo was sacked alongside Italian goalkeeping coach, Massimo Battara.

In comes Steve Bruce and Gollini starts for awhile, but is then dropped for Mark Bunn. Two weeks later, January comes around and Gollini finds himself shipped off to Serie A side Atalanta.

When Aston Villa replaced Italian goalkeeping coach Massimo Battara with Andy Marshall, Gollini became upset. Through his agent, the player claims to have been promised Battara through his contract.

In any aspect, Gollini was not in Steve Bruce’s immediate plans. Bruce brought in Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone almost immediately, and the rest is history.

Pier might still have a future with the club, depending on his development away from Birmingham. Steve Bruce made it evidently clear in his presser that Gollini was not ready to take the reigns in Aston Villa’s net. Atalanta currently sit in 5th-place in Serie A, good enough for a Europa League spot. There, the young Italian would have increased chances for extended playing time.

Next: Jerell Sellars Will Not Be Returning To Aston Villa

2017-2018 Prediction: Unless there is a hidden clause in his contract, Pierluigi Gollini will be spending next season at Atalanta B.C.. There, Gollini, will have to beat out Albania #1 and fellow loan signing, Etrit Berisha.

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