Former Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero got off to a dream start with his new club Venezia after they beat Fiorentina 1-0.
The Argentine stopper was equal to everything and secured Venezia’s first clean sheet of the season.
The three points moved Venezia out of the Serie A relegation zone and up to 15th in the table.
Despite coming up against one of the most sought after strikers in European football in Dusan Vlahovic, Romero’s backline held firm.
Romero will be targeting back-to-back clean sheets when his new team head to Sassuolo on Saturday.
No ring rust for Sergio Romero
Despite not playing a competitive game for 14 months since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side’s extra time win against Copenhagen in the Europa League back in August 2020, the 34-year-old looked sharp, calm and composed.
In the first half, a deflected strike by Giacomo Bonaventura was heading for goal, but Romero acrobatically got a glove to the effort and clawed the ball away from danger.
Alfred Duncan hit a rasping drive in the 75th minute which had the former United stopper scampering, but the shot just whistled over the top of the bar.
In the 84th minute, La Viola played a short corner before swinging a cross which was met by the head of Nicolas Gonzalez, but Romero comfortably saved his compatriot’s tame attempt.
Fiorentina’s star man Vlahovic had an effort outside the box deep into injury time, but he failed to test Romero.
In the 94th minute, a Vlahovic cross was met by the head of Cristiano Biraghi, but Romero was equal to it and parried the effort away from goal.
Romero finished the match with two saves, one successful collection coming off his line and made two clearances. He also completed 21 of his attempted 32 passes (SofaScore).
Back to doing what he does best
After getting 39 clean sheets from 61 Manchester United games, Romero opened up about his difficult final season at Old Trafford upon his move back to Italy.
Romero is Argentina’s all-time most-capped goalkeeper and with 96 caps to his name, he will be targeting a recall to the national side and challenging Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez for the number one spot ahead of next winter’s Qatar World Cup.
After a torrid last season in Manchester, it’s great to see Romero back doing what he does best and enjoying his football once again.
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