Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario considers Inter captain Samir Handanovic to be his greatest inspiration as a player.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews, the 26-year-old named Handanovic as his idol, and noted that he had admitted as much to the Slovenian.
Handanovic marked out quite a reputation for himself playing for Udinese, before he made the switch to Inter in the summer of 2012, where he has stayed for over a decade and become club captain.
For Vicario, who grew up in Udine and came through the Friulani’s youth ranks, it is understandable that Handanovic would make a big impression on him.
The outstanding performances that the Slovenian distinguished himself with in Serie A made him a popular figure in Friuli, apart from earning him a move to the Nerazzurri where he has only further built a reputation for himself.
“My role model is Samir Handanovic,” Vicario said of the Nerazzurri captain, “I’ve been following him since I was a child, where he was at Udinese and helped bring the club to the Champions League.”
“Over the years, he’s also grown significantly in terms of his charisma,” the Empoli keeper added.
“I’m very inspired by him and I try to take the best from his game,” he said.
“I spoke to him twice last season, and I told him that he’s been my idol since I was a kid.”