Legendary former Italy goalkeeper and CT Dino Zoff has given his backing to Napoli stopper Alex Meret after an unfortunate error during the Partenopei’s recent 2-2 draw at home with Frosinone in Serie A on Sunday.
Meret, who started in 34 of a possible 38 during Napoli’s Scudetto-winning year in 2022-23, saved a first-half penalty at the weekend, but was caught in possession in his own area at the beginning of the second period, which gifted Frosinone an equaliser for 1-1.
Zoff sympathised with Meret, explaining that he would not have enjoyed having to take those sorts of risks had he played in the current era, and suggested that he would have simply launched the ball out of play had he been in Meret’s position.
“When the action starts from the goalkeeper, it’s always very risky, I wouldn’t let the ‘keeper take all of those risks. If it had been me, in a moment of difficulty, I would have put the ball in the stands,” he said in a recent appearance on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, reported via TMW.
He continued: “The goalkeeper shouldn’t take risks, it’s not logical, and I’ll explain why. A goal is always worse than a bad pass out to the wrong side of the pitch.
Zoff continued in his support of Meret by imploring him to stay where he is and not look for another team to join when the transfer window opens in the summer.
“Meret is a goalkeeper for the national team and he must stay with Napoli because it is the right place for where he is in his career. He is still young, he shouldn’t go out and look for another club.”
“I think his place in the national team will remain solid and I think he will go to the Euros in the summer.”