‘He’s one of the best in the world’: Tottenham star on the ‘little brother’ he plays with that everyone is underrating right now
Tottenham Hotspur keeper Guglielmo Vicario tells FourFourTwo about a special connection with one of his team-mates, who he is pushing to be even better
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has decribed team-mate Destiny Udogie as "one of the best left-backs in the world" and says he is pushing the Italian left-back to be an even better player at Spurs.
Vicario signed for Tottenham from Empoli last summer and linked up with compatriot Udogie, who had joined from Udinese the previous year but remained on loan at the Serie A side for the 2022/23 season.
Both Vicario and Udogie have impressed for Ange Postecoglou's side this season and the goalkeeper says his team-mate, who he has previously described as being like a "little brother", is "an unbelievable player" who can get even better.
"We have a great relationship because we’re Italian – we spend loads of time together at the training ground," Vicario told FourFourTwo in an exclusive interview.
"I try to push him to do extra work, maybe not just to train but also to come with me to the gym, because he’s got huge potential. He can still improve a lot.
"He’s not simply one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, but also the world. He’s only 21, so he must have the drive inside him to improve day-by-day – I try to push him.
"He’s a very good lad, an unbelievable player, and he has all the qualities to reach the top – he’s quick, he has superb technique, he’s a good defender and attacker... he has everything.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Following his impressive start to life at Spurs, Udogie made his debut for Italy as a substitute against Malta in October and went on to play the 90 minutes for the Azzurri in a 3-1 defeat to England three days later.
Vicario, meanwhile, has been a feature of Italy's squads for some time but is still waiting for his first international cap.
Read the full interview with Guglielmo Vicario in the current issue of FourFourTwo, in shops now, or BUY HERE WITH FREE DELIVERY
More Tottenham Hotspur and Guglielmo Vicario stories
‘Signing for Tottenham was one of the best days of my life’: Guglielmo Vicario on move to Spurs
‘He speaks about football and about life - and he tells us some stories that stay inside our dressing room…’ Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario on what working with Ange Postecoglou is REALLY like
Why do so few Italians move to the Premier League? Tottenham star explains culture differences
Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.
‘Scoring in a World Cup is like winning the title – can you imagine millions of people celebrating something you did? It’s insane and made me very proud’: Brazil legend explains how much 2002 goal meant to him
'He already had the ability but didn’t use it because he was afraid to shoot – I said, "You’re a player who has to decide games – you have to take risks, mate"': Liverpool star was forced to become confident by team-mates