Juventus fans REALLY don't like Michele Di Gregorio. They've called him a "chair", demanded he leave and even turned their anger personal. So why on earth have Bournemouth decided he's worth taking a punt on?
Juventus fans don't seem particularly sad to see Michele Di Gregorio leave. In fact, judging by the reaction to his departure, you could be forgiven for wondering why Bournemouth would want him in the first place.
But perhaps we are looking at his time in Turin from the wrong angle. Maybe Di Gregorio isn't a bad goalkeeper. Maybe Juventus was simply too big a jump.
Before moving to Turin, Di Gregorio had built an excellent reputation at Monza and was regarded as one of Serie A's better goalkeepers. His performances earned him the move to one of the biggest clubs in Italian football, but that also changed the nature of the job completely.
At Monza, mistakes were mistakes. At Juventus, mistakes become headlines. The expectation is not simply to make saves; a Juventus goalkeeper is expected to provide almost absolute certainty. When you follow in the footsteps of Buffon and Szczęsny, the bar is ridiculously high.
That isn't to say Di Gregorio hasn't made mistakes in Turin. He has, and the criticism from Juventus supporters hasn't appeared from nowhere. But there is a danger in allowing two difficult seasons at one of the most demanding clubs in Europe to completely erase what came before them. The goalkeeper who impressed at Monza didn't suddenly forget how to play football. Perhaps he simply found himself in an environment where his weaknesses were exposed far more severely and his mistakes carried far greater consequences.
That is why Bournemouth could be an intriguing next step.
The Cherries are no longer the small club fighting simply to survive in the Premier League. They are an established top-flight side, coming off their best-ever Premier League finish and preparing for European football. This is a significant move for Di Gregorio, but it isn't Juventus. The expectations are high, yet the demand for perfection is nowhere near the same.
The likely presence of Petrović as Bournemouth's first-choice goalkeeper could also work in Di Gregorio's favour. Rather than arriving with the pressure of immediately becoming the undisputed No.1, he can settle into English football, compete for his place and take responsibility for the cup competitions. That gives him an opportunity to rebuild confidence while still playing meaningful football.
There is also the Marco Rose factor. Bournemouth are expected to remain a proactive side, with pressing, possession and playing out from the back important parts of their identity. Di Gregorio is comfortable with the ball and has experience operating as a modern goalkeeper rather than simply standing between the posts and stopping shots. Tactically, there is reason to believe he could fit what Bournemouth are trying to build.
Perhaps, then, the question isn't why Bournemouth would want the goalkeeper Juventus fans have turned against. Perhaps it is whether Bournemouth have found the environment in which Di Gregorio can rediscover the goalkeeper who earned that Juventus move in the first place.
Monza gave him the platform. Juventus may have been one step too far.
Bournemouth could be the perfect middle ground.
