The Italian topflight in the past few years has become one of the most competitive leagues in Europe. Over the years, it has also produced some world-class goalkeepers who have gone on to have incredible careers. These include the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Dida, Júlio César, Gianluigi Donnarumma and many more.
Serie A is considered to be a tactically-astute league, where a lot of teams play five at the back and are defensively solid. With a third of its 2021-22 campaign already over, it’s a big enough sample size to decide who have been the best goalkeepers in the league this season.
Listed below are my picks for the top 10 keepers in Serie A this season.
The Argentina international joined Venezia on a free transfer in the summer from Manchester United, where he always played second fiddle to David de Gea.
But Romero’s quality was always visible. In his five years at Manchester United, Romero only managed 7 appearances in the Premier League. However, he managed to keep 6 clean sheets in those games. He was predominantly used as a cup-competition keeper and played a major role in United winning the Europa League in 2017.
After years of being a second-choice keeper, Romero, even at 34, is showing that he has still got quality to play at the top level. In his 5 games at Venezia, He has faced 30 shots on goal and has maintained a save percentage of 76.7% (second highest in the league). He also has 2 clean sheets to his name in his 5 games.
He is tenth on this list, as the majority of the other keepers have played more games, but if he continues in this form, then Romero could be positioned higher come the end of the season.
The 24-year-old Serbian GK joined Torino in 2020 and has been their first-choice goalkeeper this season, having featured in all their games thus far. Torino are 12th in the Serie A table at the moment, and are only averaging one goal conceded per game, which is better than many clubs even at the top of the league.
Milinkovi?-Savi? is having his breakout season and has faced 31 shots in his 12 games with a save percentage of 61.3%. He has also saved one out of the three penalties he has faced this season.
With Salvatore Sirigu at the club as well, this is the perfect situation for Milinkovi?-Savi? to hone his skills and become one of the best up-and-coming goalkeepers in world football.
The 25-year-old Italian keeper has only conceded 18 goals in 11 games, which has helped his club remain bang mid-table, at 10th position. His record of goals conceded is the best in the bottom half of the league.
Montipò also has a high save percentage of 61.9%, which puts him at 8th on this list. He is one of the few keepers in Serie A who are confident in coming out for crosses and punching the ball to safety.
Even though he only has one clean sheet in 11 games, Montipò’s importance is visible as Hellas Verona recently conceded three in the game he didn’t play, when the average goals against him were only 1.64.
Montipò may have only one clean sheet this season so far, but due to his qualities and potential to become one of the better keepers in the league for years to come, I think he deserves to be 8th on this list.
The ex-Udinese No 1 was signed by Atalanta in July 2021 because of his sublime performances last season. Musso had an astonishing 157 saves from 208 shots on goal and kept the most number of clean sheets (14) in the 2020/21 season.
Musso’s form got him his big move to Atlanta, where he has been in sublime form in the Champions League and is also aiming to become the best keeper in his league and country.
The Atalanta No 1 has a unique style; he likes to stand tall till the very last possible moment, and his quick reflexes help him cover most parts of the goal.
This season so far, the Argentinean has only kept two clean sheets in 11 games, but he has a good save percentage of 61.9%. He is also the only keeper to have a 100% record in saving the only penalty he has faced.
The 30-year-old is one of the more experienced keepers in the league. Silvestri used to play in the EFL Championship for Leeds United, and since then he has played for Hellas Verona as well, joining Udinese in 2021.
This season, despite Udinese being 14th in the Serie A table, Silvestre has tried to hold his own. He has faced a total of 53 shots in his 12 games so far and has managed a good save percentage of 64.2. He has conceded 18 goals in 12 games and kept 2 clean sheets.
Silvestri’s anticipation, reflexes, and flexibility are some of the qualities that make him one of the best shot-stoppers in the league, hence earning him the 6th position on this list.
The Italian giants lost the Scudetto for the first time in more than seven years in the 2020/21 season, and this season seems to be going down the same path. 12 games in, Juventus are 8th in the league with 18 points, 14 behind the league-leaders Napoli.
However, none of this boils down to their keeper, Szcz?sny, who has only played in 9 of their games, and has been in good touch. The Pole has saved 24 of the 36 shots on goal that he has faced. He has only conceded 11 goals in 9 games, but Juventus’ frailties have mostly been on the attacking end.
The Poland international has also saved one of the two penalties he has faced thus far, and is trying his level best to keep Juventus’ goal-keeping legacy going. Hopefully, he can take the Turin team to a higher position in the Serie A standings.
The Portuguese veteran was drawn to Italy at the start of the season by José Mourinho. The left-footed goalie is known for being good with the ball on his feet and making some outstanding saves.
Patrício is one of the many reasons Roma are currently 5th in the league. He has kept 4 clean sheets and has a save percentage of 66.7% (one of the highest in the league). With Mourinho playing a low block, a lot of shots are taken from outside the box, which the 33-year-old is renowned for saving.
This is perhaps Rui Patrício’s last chance to win something away from his national side, and he is performing like he really wants to win a trophy.
The 25-year-old Italian has faced the most number of shots in the league (67) and has an amazing save percentage (66.7%) for an Empoli side lying mid-table in 11th. Vicario is a ‘sweeper keeper’, who likes to come off his line. He is good at saving long shots and then distributing the ball to his teammates.
The youngster has also saved 2 out of the 4 penalties he has faced in Serie A and has kept two clean sheets. This season has been a breakthrough one for the Empoli keeper, and big teams will be eying him if he consistently performs at this level.
The three-time Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year is still going strong even at the age of 37. The Slovenian is still amongst the top keepers in the league.
This season, Handanovi? has only conceded 13 goals in 12 games. His commanding of the six-yard box and his anticipation and reflexes are few of the reasons Inter won the Scudetto last season and are third this season.
The veteran might be coming towards the end of his career, but he is still one of the best in the league. His save percentage of 73.6% is top three in the league, and his previous performances and reputation get him to claim the 2nd spot on this list.
Luciano Spaletti’s men are at the top of Serie A this season, and the main reason has to be their defensive solidity. Ospina, their goalkeeper, has played 10 games and has only conceded 3 goals, having kept 7 clean sheets (highest in the league).
Ospina has faced the fewest shots in the league, but he still has the highest save percentage of 84%. The Columbian keeper, who has faced competition from Alex Meret, has now cemented his spot as Napoli’s No 1 and is consistently performing well.
Ospina, along with Napoli’s defenders, has conceded only 4 goals in 12 games. He is his team’s main strength, which could help Napoli win their first Scudetto since 1990.
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