Mattia Perin ready to take up Buffon’s Italy gloves

Date: 13th November 2014 at 10:00am
Written by:

Mattia Perin + Gianluigi Buffon Italy These are less than comforting times for the Italy National Team. With Antonio Conte still finding his feet as head coach of the Azzurri, Italian fans must also face up to the reality that stalwarts like Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Gianluigi Buffon are not far from retiring.

Of those three, however, trepidation centred on who will carry on Buffon’s legacy may quickly turn to excitement as Mattia Perin continues to stake his claim as the worthiest of successors.

The Genoa stopper has been on the periphery of the national team for some time now, having been included in Cesare Prandelli’s final 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup as the third choice goalkeeper behind Buffon and Salvatore Sirigu. At 21, he was the youngest player in the squad and the only one without a senior cap. Unsurprisingly, he was not selected in any of Italy’s three group games but he has continued a steady progression that has forced him into the reckoning as Buffon edges closer to hanging up his gloves.

Perin is a keeper not only blessed with great ability but also an unwavering ambition to be the best. He described his time working in close quarters with Buffon in Brazil as a dream come true and his impressive performances for Il Rossoblu have clearly demonstrated a driven and talented player primed to return to the World Cup one day between the sticks.

Mattia Perin + Gianluigi BuffonPerin seized the opportunity to impress his mentor last month when Genoa defeated Juventus 1–0, with the 22-year-old pulling off a stunning stop to deny Alvaro Morata in the 88th minute. It was a save of sublime quality, executed at a crucial juncture in the match that echoed the great performances of Buffon when he was forging his reputation as a young prodigy at Parma.

Arguably Genoa’s stand-out performer this season, Perin also produced man-of-the-match performances in a 0–0 draw with Fiorentina, where he made six saves‚ and in a 1–0 win over Lazio, where he pulled off seven. Most recently though, he ensured his side left Cagliari with a draw after a brilliant penalty save to deny Danilo Fernando Avelar. It is precisely these match-saving displays that have propelled him to the top of a long list of potential heirs to Buffon that includes the aforementioned Sirigu, but also Fransesco Bardi, Simone Scuffet and Nicola Leali.

The fact that the list includes established keepers in Serie A stands testament to Perin’s meteoric rise and there is no reason to believe the only way is up for the young man from Latina. AC Milan have consistently been touted as potential suitors for him while Liverpool are also reported to have begun tracking his progress. A move to a major European club is increasingly becoming an inevitability but for now, Perin will remain grounded and hope to secure a European spot for his beloved Genoa.

Mattia+Perin+Genoa+CFC+v+FC+Internazionale+6rwYHZvERVwlOnly Juventus, Roma and Sampdoria boast better defences than Genoa, thanks in no small part to Perin and his accelerating potential will prove pivotal in their bid to finish in the top six. Italian goalkeeping legend Dino Zoff  recently heaped praise on Perin, labelling him as the best goalkeeper in Serie A along with Udinese’s Orestis Karnezis and it will only serve to boost the youngster’s confidence considerably.

The important thing for Perin is to continue his education under the wing of Buffon, asking for advice and tips at every opportunity when links up with the World Cup winner at the Azzurri’s team camp. Perin is his own man and does not require a wholesale transformation in his game but taking advice from his idol would not go a miss.

Perin is doing a fine job of catapulting himself into the national footballing consciousness and his recent performances have suggested he is poised to continue his upward trajectory and eventually take the much coveted gloves occupied by Gigi Buffon sooner rather than later.

Follow Matt Gault on Twitter: @MattGault11

 

Comments are closed.