Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterGianluca Pagliuca is synonymous with Italian football, with the former Sampdoria and Inter goalkeeper most famous for his exploits with Italy during the 1994 World Cup.But despite spending his whole career playing in his homeland, there is a special place in the Bologna-born stoppers heart for one English club.During his career, Pagliuca came close to joining Aston Villa and more than four decades on, the Villans hold a special place in his heart.Pagliuca on his love for Aston VillaThe 59-year-old first fell for the West Midlanders as a youngster, long before the club were in for him and long before the English top flight became the all-conquering global success now known as the Premier League.I fell in love with Aston Villa watching clips of English football on TV in the early 80s, Pagliuca tells FourFourTwo. You may like Our World Cup final loss didnt sink in for decades that was the opportunity of a lifetime Italy goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca on losing the 1994 World Cup final The Europa League final isn't now-or-never for Aston Villa but time is running out for a beloved team EXCLUSIVE Robert Sanchez opens up why David De Gea is his idol I remember those claret-and-blue colours and their title race with Ipswich in 1981.It would be 18 years later in 1999 that Villa, then under the stewardship of manager John Gregory, came calling.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.After my time at Inter, before I agreed to join Bologna, I got a call from Villa, he recalls. Back then, the Premier League wasnt what it is today Serie A was the worlds top league.What seemed like a logical decision at the time, given the respective strength of each league at the time, is now a source of regret for the 39-time Italy international.If I were playing now, or could go back in time, Id seize that kind of opportunity immediately especially in England, which has always fascinated me, but also abroad in general.Although that move to Villa Park never materialised, Pagliucas affection for the club has only grown stronger over the years, culminating in a permanent reminder of what they mean to him.In 2019, before Villa won the play-off final against Derby, I promised my son that, if they got promoted to the Premier League, Id tattoo their crest on my right arm, he admits.And I did! Even today, I still check their results automatically its a habit I care about.TOPICSItalyAston VillaPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromDaniele Verri
