Currently plying his trade in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur custodian Pierluigi Gollini defined the distinctions between the cultures of the two countries.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gollini was asked whether Jack Grealish, who will soon sign a million-pound deal to become Gucci’s new brand ambassador, is more popular in Italy than in England. The goalkeeper replied,
“They are two opposite cultures: here (in England) nobody cares about my style, how many jewels I wear or how I dress.
“In Italy, you are judged first as a character and then as a footballer. In England, those who manage clubs have a vision very similar to the NBA model. On the other hand, we are still looking at the 90s.
“The Tottenham stadium cost a billion and has the terrain that can be transformed according to the event scheduled. In Italy, it takes years to build one before being able to build one.”
Gollini joined Tottenham Hotspur last summer on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy and has since made 10 appearances for Spurs across all competitions. Though, he is yet to make his debut in the Premier League.
