Legendary former Inter goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca feels that current Nerazzurri captain Samir Handanovic is still a formidable presence and will be tough for Andre Onana to dislodge.
Speaking to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Pagliuca gave the view that it will still take some time for Onana to settle in and that Handanovic still has the quality to be the starting keeper.
Handanovic has come in for some criticism this season, and his future remains uncertain with Onana all set to arrive from Ajax on a free transfer and the Slovenian not yet having signed a contract extension past the summer.
However, the 37-year-old has still been the undisputed first-choice keeper for the Nerazzurri so far this season, and has still shown his value despite some wobbles.
Pagliuca feels that the Slovenian still has what it takes to be the Nerazzurri’s starting goalkeeper for a little while longer, especially since Onana may not immediately be ready to make the step up.
“In the African Cup of Nations he showed some great saves but also some real mistakes,” Pagliuca said of Onana. “He’s a quality goalkeeper, with physicality and strength. He reminds me a bit of Maignan.”
“I hope that Onana can come in as quickly as Maignan did at Milan even if I see it as difficult,” he added.
“Today, Onana is not superior to Handanovic,” was the former keeper’s opinion.
“If he used to be a 10/10 shotstopper, now he’s still an 8.5/10 one,” he said of Handanovic. “And in this he can make some mistakes. But he’s still very good, and Onana will have to wait for his second season to take his place.”
