Parma found an emergency solution to the package of its holder Zion Suzuki by hiring Vicente Guaita, 39 years old in a few weeks. The Spanish keeper is known as much for his experience as for his unusual passion: breeding racing pigeons. Free from any contract after Celta Vigo, the former Valencia, Getafe and Crystal Palace goalkeeper signed for six months and could start on Saturday against Udinese. Father of three sons, all goalkeepers, collector of gloves and author of a striking penalty saved against Lionel Messi, Guaita joins the short list of Spanish goalkeepers who have passed through Serie A.
His arrival also awakens the memory of Enrique Guaita, legendary Italian-Argentinian striker for Roma in the 1930s, 1934 world champion and nicknamed the “Black Corsair”. He had fled Italy to escape forced enlistment, a spectacular escape which had taken him to South America. A name steeped in history that Parma finds again today, but for a goalkeeper with an atypical career, as discreet as it is unexpected.
