Michele Di Gregorio is stepping confidently into his new role as Juventus’ goalkeeper, presenting himself after a successful debut in a friendly match against Nuremberg. Following in the footsteps of legendary keepers like Gianluigi Buffon, Di Gregorio expressed his admiration for the iconic shot-stopper, stating, “I’ve heard the kind words that Buffon has said about me. It’s a pleasure and an honor to hear praise from the greatest goalkeeper in history. Buffon and Samir Handanovic were among my idols.”
Di Gregorio is fully aware of the pressure that comes with wearing the Juventus shirt, a feeling he embraces as he begins this new chapter in his career. He remarked, “The emotions I’m feeling are those of the first day; everything is wonderful here. When I spoke to Giuntoli, I committed myself and didn’t think of any other club. My journey to Juventus has been about hard work and perseverance.”
Having worked his way up from Serie C, Di Gregorio joins a distinguished list of Italian goalkeepers who have worn the Juventus jersey, including legends like Dino Zoff and Angelo Peruzzi. He reflected, “The club’s history speaks for itself, especially when it comes to top-level goalkeepers. I’m proud to be here and hope to leave a mark like these giants. Physically, I find more similarity to Peruzzi.” He also mentioned, “National team aspirations are there, but first, I must make an impact at Juventus. I’ve played just one friendly, but I understand the weight of the shirt at a historic club. This pressure should push us to go beyond our limits.”
The new Juventus goalkeeper was brought in at the insistence of coach Thiago Motta, particularly for his skills with the ball at his feet. “Motta asks us to show personality and engage in play. It’s important because the game has evolved,” Di Gregorio explained. He shared that he has already built a good relationship with teammates Mattia Perin and Carlo Pinsoglio, stating, “I’m here to give my best and be ready; we’ll see how it all unfolds.”
Di Gregorio has been particularly impressed with the Juventus squad. “We have an incredible group that works hard and has a strong mentality. Our training camp in Germany helped us bond, and it was a fantastic week at an excellent facility.” While specific goals for the season have not been deeply discussed, he mentioned, “We want to do our best to achieve success.”
Finally, Di Gregorio took a moment to express gratitude towards his former club Monza, stating, “I would like to thank Monza and take this opportunity to wish Dr. Galliani a happy 80th birthday.”