Roberto De Zerbi is ready to back ‘this’ star as Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper despite his difficult Champions League debut.
Roberto De Zerbi currently views Antonin Kinsky as his first-choice goalkeeper, according to The Spurs Express on X via Fabrizio Romano, in a decision that represents a remarkable show of faith given the Czech goalkeeper’s catastrophic Champions League debut against Atletico Madrid earlier in the season.
The plan, as outlined in the report, would see Kinsky established as Tottenham’s undisputed number one, with the club then turning their attention to bringing in a second-choice goalkeeper to provide competition and cover behind him. That structure would clear the path for Guglielmo Vicario’s departure to proceed as planned, with the Italian having already reached a basic agreement over personal terms with Inter Milan.
The decision will raise eyebrows given the context of Kinsky’s only meaningful exposure at this level so far. His introduction against Atletico in the last 16 first leg produced one of the most chastening individual performances of Tottenham’s entire season, with two calamitous errors, including gifting the ball directly to Julian Alvarez for an open-net finish, resulting in his removal after just 17 minutes. It was, by any measure, among the worst debuts a goalkeeper could produce on a stage of that magnitude.
Tottenham manager De Zerbi recognizes the quality of Antonin Kinsky
De Zerbi’s willingness to back Kinsky despite that experience suggests the Italian sees enough in the 23-year-old’s underlying quality, technical profile, and long-term potential to look past a single horrendous evening in Madrid. It also fits a broader pattern in De Zerbi’s goalkeeper recruitment philosophy, which has consistently prioritised technically progressive shot-stoppers comfortable building from the back, exactly the kind of profile Kinsky was signed to provide when he arrived at the club.
The plan to bring in a second-choice goalkeeper rather than another established starter is a notable structural decision. Rather than creating genuine competition for the number one shirt, Tottenham appear set on using the depth signing purely as cover, a clear signal of the confidence the club’s hierarchy currently holds in Kinsky’s ceiling.
For Vicario, the report provides further clarity on his path out of the club. With Kinsky earmarked as the long-term solution and Inter Milan eager to complete a deal, the Italian’s Tottenham exit now appears to be approaching its final stages, contingent only on the two clubs agreeing the final transfer fee.
Whether Kinsky can justify this faith remains the most pressing question hanging over Tottenham’s goalkeeping department heading into next season, regardless of which division the club ultimately finds themselves competing in.