Pierluigi Gollini’s return to the centre of Roma’s season begins at Como, with a home meeting against Real Madrid to follow and a run of fixtures that could keep him in goal for at least a month. Mile Svilar is not expected back until after the international break, leaving Gollini with an opportunity he has not had in Serie A since 5 October 2024.
That last league appearance came in a Genoa shirt, against an Atalanta side coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, who won 5-1. Since then, Gollini has changed clubs, accepted a supporting role and settled into Roma’s dressing room. He has also reached a different stage in his private life: he is married to Ariel, with their first daughter Soleil awaiting the arrival of a sibling.
Roma have included Vasquez on their Serie A list, but Gasperini has made clear that Gollini will be the goalkeeper for the immediate programme. The coach believes the 31-year-old has earned the confidence of the group through his work in training and is ready to put together a sustained spell in the side.
“Svilar will return after the break,” Gasperini said, before reflecting on a goalkeeper he knows better than most. “Perhaps I am the only coach who has played him regularly during his career. He is an excellent deputy, but now he has the chance for continuity. At Genoa he became Italy’s second-choice goalkeeper for a couple of years. He has ability, he has trained well in recent months, and everyone must trust him.”
A familiar coach and a new place at Roma
Gasperini’s assessment is supported by the numbers. Gollini has made 113 appearances under him, including Roma’s Europa League match against Panathinaikos last January. No other coach comes close: Luigi Delneri is next, with 24 games. Their earlier period together was not without tension, but their reunion in the capital has brought a calmer relationship, shaped by greater maturity on both sides.
Gollini has become a valued presence around Trigoria, particularly close to the Italian contingent and Bryan Cristante, while enjoying broad respect across the squad. Svilar himself has often pointed to the standard of goalkeeping work at Roma as one reason for his own high level, acknowledging the competition and intensity provided by his teammate.
There is little need for Gollini to rediscover the demands of the division. He already has 139 Serie A appearances, although a spell out of the spotlight means there will inevitably be some rust to remove. What matters now is the rhythm of matches, beginning with Como and continuing through the period before Svilar’s return.
Outside football, he has retained interests in music and fashion, while photography has become a newer pursuit. He has bought a camera and has taken informal pictures of teammates, keeping those images private for now. Roma, however, need his focus to remain on the pitch. With a settled home life, a dressing room that trusts him and a coach who has repeatedly relied on him, Gollini has been handed a meaningful chapter in the club’s campaign.
