CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | ACF Fiorentina |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Paolo Vanoli |
| Stadium | Stadio Artemio Franchi |
| Nickname | La Viola |
| Founded | 1926 |
| First-Choice Goalkeeper | David de Gea |
| Backup Goalkeeper | Oliver Christensen |
| Third-Choice / Homegrown | Luca Lezzerini |
| Academy Prospect | Tommaso Martinelli (on loan at Avellino) |
The Defining Moment
Fiorentina’s 2026/27 season has been defined by a goalkeeping paradox that encapsulates the club’s broader crisis. David de Gea, the former Manchester United stalwart whose arrival in 2024 was hailed as a coup, has played every single minute of the campaign—thirteen competitive matches, 1,170 minutes, twenty-six goals conceded, and just one clean sheet. The numbers are damning for a goalkeeper of his pedigree, but they are also a reflection of the chaos in front of him. Fiorentina sit fifteenth in Serie A with nine points from eleven matches, having conceded twenty-five goals in the league alone. The defensive structure that was supposed to protect De Gea has instead exposed him.
The defining moment of Fiorentina’s goalkeeping season came not in a save but in a mistake that crystallised the debate. Against Juventus in early November, with La Viola leading 2-1 and minutes remaining, De Gea hesitated on an aerial ball into his box. Gleison Bremer, the Juventus centre-back, rose unopposed and headed home the equaliser. It was the kind of error that a goalkeeper of De Gea’s experience should not make, and it cost Fiorentina two precious points in a relegation battle. The Italian media did not hesitate. “De Gea under examination,” read the headlines. His future, once considered untouchable, is now a subject of genuine uncertainty.
This is the story of Fiorentina’s 2026/27 goalkeepers: a decorated veteran fighting to justify his salary and his status, a Danish backup whose future remains unresolved, and a pipeline of young talent that the club may be forced to accelerate sooner than planned.
Tactical Context
Paolo Vanoli’s Fiorentina has been a study in defensive instability. The manager, who replaced Stefano Pioli in the summer, has oscillated between a back four and a back three, searching for a configuration that protects a defence that has been repeatedly carved open. The result is a goalkeeping department that has been asked to absorb pressure rather than benefit from structure. De Gea has faced 26 goals in 13 matches, an average of two per game, and the lack of clean sheets reflects a team that has kept out the opposition only once all season.
The tactical demands on De Gea have shifted subtly from his Manchester United days. At Fiorentina, he is asked to be more involved in build-up play, to distribute under pressure, and to function as a sweeper-keeper in a system that defends higher than the deep block he was accustomed to in England. The adjustment has not been seamless. His hesitation against Juventus was a product of that uncertainty—a goalkeeper caught between the instinct to stay on his line and the instruction to claim crosses.
The backup situation is where the structural questions lie. Oliver Christensen, the Danish goalkeeper who returned from a loan spell at Sturm Graz in January, has been the subject of internal debate. His performances when called upon have been competent, but the club’s hierarchy remains uncertain whether he is a viable long-term deputy or a player who should be moved on. Luca Lezzerini, the homegrown third choice, signed a contract extension until 2028, a recognition of his professionalism and his value to the squad’s registration requirements rather than his on-pitch contribution. The balance of the department is functional, but it is not sustainable if De Gea’s form continues to decline.
The Goalkeepers
David de Gea
De Gea is Fiorentina’s first-choice goalkeeper, the highest earner in the squad, and the player upon whom the defensive structure depends. The 35-year-old Spaniard has played every minute of the 2026/27 campaign, conceding 26 goals in 13 matches and keeping just one clean sheet. His contract runs until 2028, with a net salary of €3 million per season—€5.56 million gross—making him the club’s most significant financial commitment in the position.
His profile is that of the traditional, reflex-based goalkeeper. De Gea’s shot-stopping remains his defining attribute, and his performances in previous seasons—46 appearances and 13 clean sheets in 2025/26—demonstrated that he can still deliver at a high level. But the errors have crept in. The hesitation against Juventus, the failure to stop Duvikas’s shot against Como, the save that should have been made against Roma—these are the moments that have defined his season. At 35, the physical decline is inevitable, but the mental lapses are more concerning.
The contract situation is settled, but the future is not. Fiorentina are reportedly evaluating alternatives, with De Gea’s salary and his age weighing heavily in the club’s calculations. A January departure cannot be ruled out if a suitable offer arrives, though his preference is to remain in Florence. The question is not whether De Gea has been a good goalkeeper—his career speaks for itself. The question is whether he can rediscover the form that made him one of the best in the world, and whether Fiorentina can afford to wait for that rediscovery.
Oliver Christensen
Christensen is Fiorentina’s second-choice goalkeeper, the Danish international whose future at the club remains uncertain. The 27-year-old returned from a six-month loan at Sturm Graz in January 2026 and has since served as De Gea’s deputy, making a handful of appearances in cup competitions. His most recent league outing, against Atalanta, drew applause from the Franchi faithful for a series of reactive saves.
His profile is that of the modern, athletic goalkeeper. Christensen’s reflexes and shot-stopping are his strengths, and his distribution is competent if not exceptional. The challenge for him is opportunity. De Gea’s durability has limited Christensen’s chances, and the lack of consistent minutes has prevented him from establishing himself as a genuine alternative. The club’s hierarchy must decide whether he is a reliable deputy or a player who needs to be sold to fund investment elsewhere.
Luca Lezzerini
Lezzerini is Fiorentina’s third-choice goalkeeper and a product of the club’s academy. The 31-year-old signed a contract extension until 2028 in May 2026, a decision driven by his value to the squad’s registration requirements and his presence in the dressing room rather than his on-pitch contributions. He has yet to make a league appearance this season, and his role is that of the emergency option who trains professionally and is ready if called upon.
Tommaso Martinelli
Martinelli is the academy graduate whose development has been closely monitored by the club’s hierarchy. The 20-year-old is currently on loan at Avellino, where he has impressed with his consistency and maturity. He has already made four appearances for Fiorentina’s first team across Serie A and the Conference League, and his performances for the youth sides have marked him as one of the most promising goalkeepers to emerge from the Viola academy in recent years.
His profile is that of the modern, ball-playing goalkeeper. Martinelli’s distribution and composure under pressure are his defining attributes, and his development at Avellino has been designed to accelerate his readiness for first-team football. If Fiorentina decide to move on from De Gea, Martinelli is the most likely internal solution.
The External Option: Santiago Beltrán
Fiorentina are also monitoring Santiago Beltrán, the 22-year-old River Plate goalkeeper whose contract expires in December 2026. The Argentine is viewed as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in South America, and the prospect of signing him on a free transfer represents a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. His technical quality and ability to play with his feet align with the modern requirements of the position, and his age would provide a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Fiorentina Goalkeeper Statistics (All Competitions 2026/27)
| Player | Appearances | Minutes | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David de Gea | 13 | 1,170 | 26 | 1 |
| Oliver Christensen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luca Lezzerini | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TABLE B: Fiorentina Defence – Key Metrics (Serie A 2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Conceded (League) | 25 | In 11 matches; 2.27 per game |
| Clean Sheets (League) | 0 | None in Serie A |
| League Position | 15th | 9 points from 11 matches |
| Record | 2-3-6 | Six defeats in eleven matches |
TABLE C: Goalkeeper Contract & Availability Metrics
| Metric | De Gea | Christensen | Lezzerini | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 35 | 27 | 31 | Veteran vs prime |
| Contract Expiry | 2028 | 2027 | 2028 | Stability vs uncertainty |
| Salary (Net) | €3m | — | — | Highest earner |
| Future | Under review | Uncertain | Secure | Succession planning |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Fiorentina’s goalkeeping department is a study in dependency. The club has a decorated veteran in De Gea, a competent but unproven deputy in Christensen, and a pipeline of young talent that may be accelerated by necessity. The balance is not between present and future—it is between the hope that De Gea can rediscover his form and the fear that his decline is irreversible.
The structural question is not whether De Gea has been a good goalkeeper. His career at Manchester United, where he made over 400 appearances and won the Premier League, speaks for itself. The question is whether he can be the goalkeeper Fiorentina need him to be in a relegation battle. The errors against Juventus, Como, and Roma have cost the club points, and the lack of clean sheets reflects a goalkeeper who is not bailing out his defence when it breaks down.
The statistical profile is damning. Twenty-six goals conceded in thirteen matches, one clean sheet, and a league position of fifteenth tell a story of a team in crisis. De Gea is not solely responsible—the defence in front of him has been consistently exposed—but a goalkeeper of his salary and stature is expected to make a difference. He has not.
The Verdict from the Camp
OneFootball, on De Gea’s season:
“De Gea has stood in all 13 competitive matches this season over the full distance, but conceded 26 goals and kept only one clean sheet. The long-time Manchester United keeper made some blunders.”
Calcio News 24, on the Juventus error:
“The episode that reignited the debate came in the last match against Juventus. An imprecise exit from the goalkeeper favoured the equalising goal scored by Bremer, depriving the Tuscan team of a victory that would have been fundamental in the fight for survival.”
TMW, on Christensen’s future:
“Who instead still has to decipher their future is Oliver Christensen. His is a path perhaps more difficult to understand than that of his colleague, having been first a protagonist in important leagues and then a mystery object in the Fiorentina shirt.”
TMW, on Lezzerini’s renewal:
“Useful when needed but also for the list question, as well as a recognised dressing-room man, the club chose to reward Lezzerini’s seriousness and professionalism by exercising their option to extend the contract.”
Where Next?
Fiorentina’s goalkeeping priority is a decision on De Gea. The veteran has been given every opportunity to justify his salary and his status, but the errors have mounted and the clean sheets have not arrived. The January window offers an opportunity to move him on, though finding a buyer for a 35-year-old on €3 million net per season will not be straightforward. The alternative is to persist until the summer, hoping that De Gea’s form improves and that Fiorentina’s defensive structure stabilises in front of him.
The longer-term question is the succession plan. Martinelli’s development at Avellino has been encouraging, and his promotion to the first-team squad at the end of the season appears increasingly likely. Beltrán’s availability on a free transfer represents an opportunity that the club cannot afford to ignore, even if it creates a logjam in the position. The club’s ability to manage this transition—and to ensure that De Gea’s departure, whenever it comes, does not leave a void that cannot be filled—will determine whether the goalkeeping department remains a source of strength or a recurring weakness.
For now, the Viola have a goalkeeper they no longer trust, a backup they are unsure about, and a pipeline they may be forced to accelerate. The question is not whether De Gea was a great goalkeeper—he was. The question is whether he can be a good one for Fiorentina when they need him most. If he can, the club has a foundation to build on. If he cannot, the errors will continue, and the relegation battle will become a fight for survival that the goalkeeping department is not equipped to win.
