CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Torino FC |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Ignazio Abate |
| Stadium | Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino |
| Nickname | Il Toro / Granata |
| Founded | 1906 |
| First-Choice Goalkeeper | Lucas Perri |
| Second-Choice Goalkeeper | Diego Mascardi |
| Third-Choice Goalkeeper | Franco Israel |
The Defining Moment
Torino’s goalkeeping department in 2026/27 has been defined by a quiet, almost invisible transition—one that speaks to the club’s broader philosophy of building for the future while surviving in the present.
The defining moment came not in a single save, but in a contract announcement. On July 16, 2026, Torino completed the signing of Diego Mascardi from Spezia for a fixed fee of €1.6 million, with €200,000 in potential bonuses and a 10% sell-on clause retained by the Ligurian club. The length of the contract told the story: five years, until June 30, 2031. This was not a signing for the current season. It was a statement of intent—a bet on a 19-year-old goalkeeper who would not be ready to start in Serie A for years.
The present, meanwhile, belongs to Lucas Perri. The Brazilian, who stands at 197 cm, arrived on loan and has started the majority of Torino’s league matches, accumulating the most minutes of any goalkeeper in the squad. His performances have been solid without being spectacular, a reflection of a Torino side that sits mid-table in Serie A—11th after 11 matches, with 14 points and a goal difference of -2.
Behind Perri, the hierarchy is less settled. Mascardi has made two league appearances, conceding four goals. Franco Israel, the Uruguayan who lost his starting role to Alberto Paleari last season, remains at the club but has been marginalised. And Lapo Siviero, a 19-year-old academy prospect, provides emergency cover.
This is the story of Torino’s 2026/27 goalkeepers: a loanee holding the fort, a teenager being groomed for the future, and a club navigating the delicate balance between survival and succession.
Tactical Context
Ignazio Abate’s Torino is a team built on defensive resilience and tactical discipline. The goalkeeper’s role in this system is relatively traditional: Perri is expected to be a shot-stopper first and foremost, with his distribution—particularly his long passing—an important secondary function.
The numbers reflect a goalkeeper who has been moderately involved. In his league appearances, Perri has faced a respectable volume of shots, but his save percentage of 63.6%—recorded by Mascardi in his limited minutes—reflects a Torino side that has conceded 17 goals in 11 matches. The defensive structure in front of the goalkeeper has been inconsistent, and the goalkeepers have been exposed to a quality of chance that has tested their reflexes.
Mascardi’s profile is different. At 198 cm, he is a towering presence—taller than Perri and significantly younger. His save percentage of 63.6% in his two league appearances is respectable for a teenager making his first steps in Serie A, but his per-90 percentile rankings—30th percentile for save percentage, 15th for goals prevented—suggest a goalkeeper still adapting to the level. The potential is there, but the readiness is not yet.
Israel, meanwhile, has been the forgotten man. After a disappointing 2025/26 season in which he lost his place to Paleari, he was expected to leave in the summer. A shoulder injury that might require surgery complicated his departure, and he remains at the club as a squad option.
The Goalkeepers
Lucas Perri
Perri is Torino’s first-choice goalkeeper and the player upon whom Abate’s defensive structure depends. The Brazilian, who stands at 197 cm, arrived on loan and has started the majority of the club’s league matches, accumulating the most minutes of any goalkeeper in the squad.
His profile is that of a commanding, physical goalkeeper: tall, athletic, and capable of dominating his penalty area. His distribution is reliable, and his shot-stopping has been solid without being exceptional. He has not yet produced the kind of match-winning performance that would elevate him above the “loanee holding the fort” label, but he has been a dependable presence in a Torino side that has struggled for consistency.
At 28, Perri is in his prime. The question is whether Torino will seek to make his loan permanent or look elsewhere for a long-term solution. The answer may depend on Mascardi’s development and the club’s financial situation.
Diego Mascardi
Mascardi is the future of Torino’s goalkeeping department. The 19-year-old Italian, who stands at 198 cm, arrived from Spezia in the summer on a five-year contract until 2031. The investment—€1.6 million plus bonuses—was made with the long term in mind.
His profile is that of a developing goalkeeper: tall, athletic, and technically gifted. He made two league appearances in the early part of the season, conceding four goals, and recorded a save percentage of 63.6%. Those numbers are respectable for a teenager making his first steps in Serie A, but they also reflect the gap between potential and readiness.
His per-90 percentile rankings tell a story of adaptation: 30th percentile for save percentage, 15th for goals prevented, 0th for clean sheets. He is not yet a reliable Serie A starter. But the talent is there, and the contract length reflects Torino’s belief that he will become one.
At 19, Mascardi has time on his side. The challenge for him is to continue his development, to learn from Perri, and to be ready when his opportunity arrives. If he can fulfil his potential, Torino will have solved their goalkeeping succession problem for years to come.
Franco Israel
Israel remains at Torino, though his future is uncertain. The Uruguayan international, who stands at 190 cm, lost his starting role to Alberto Paleari in the 2025/26 season and was expected to leave in the summer. A shoulder injury that might require surgery complicated his departure, and he remains at the club as a squad option.
His profile is that of an experienced goalkeeper with international pedigree. When fit, he is a capable deputy. But the injury and the lack of regular football have made his position untenable. A departure, whether in January or the summer, seems the most sensible outcome for all parties.
Lapo Siviero
Siviero is the academy prospect in Torino’s goalkeeping department. The 19-year-old, who stands at 195 cm, has been included in the first-team squad as emergency cover. He is a development project rather than an immediate contributor, but his presence reflects Torino’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Torino Goalkeeper Serie A Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets | Save% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Perri | — | — | — | — | — |
| Diego Mascardi | 2 (2) | 180 | 4 | 0 | 63.6% |
| Franco Israel | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
TABLE B: Torino Goalkeeping Record (Serie A 2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Conceded | 17 | After 11 matches |
| Goals Conceded per Game | 1.55 | — |
| League Position | 11th | 14 points from 11 matches |
| Save Percentage (Mascardi) | 63.6% | Limited sample |
TABLE C: Goalkeeper Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Perri | Brazil | — | Commanding, tall, reliable shot-stopper |
| Diego Mascardi | Italy | Spezia | Developing, tall, long-term project |
| Franco Israel | Uruguay | — | Experienced, international pedigree, injury-prone |
| Lapo Siviero | Italy | Torino Academy | Developing, homegrown, emergency cover |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Torino’s goalkeeping department is a study in calculated transition. Perri is the present—a reliable, if unspectacular, loanee who has held the fort in a season of mid-table mediocrity. Mascardi is the future—a teenager signed on a five-year contract, groomed to become the club’s long-term No. 1. Israel is the past—a goalkeeper whose time at the club appears to be coming to an end.
The numbers suggest the approach is working, even if the margins are fine. Torino have conceded 17 goals in 11 matches—a record that reflects a defence that has been inconsistent rather than a goalkeeping crisis. Perri has been dependable, and Mascardi has shown enough in his limited minutes to justify the investment.
The key question is the future. Perri’s loan will expire, and Torino will need to decide whether to make it permanent or hand the reins to Mascardi. The answer will depend on the teenager’s development and the club’s ambitions. If Mascardi is ready, Torino have solved their goalkeeping problem for years. If he is not, the search for a long-term solution will continue.
The January window is unlikely to bring further goalkeeping additions. The priority, if any, will be on other areas of the squad. For now, Abate must work with what he has: a dependable loanee, a developing heir, and an experienced veteran providing cover.
The Verdict from the Camp
Toro News on Mascardi’s contract:
“Cinque anni di contratto per costruire il portiere degli anni a venire. Diego Mascardi è arrivato al Torino in estate durante il ritiro, era il 16 luglio 2026 quando ha firmato un accordo fino al 30 giugno 2031. Il club ha puntato su di lui non tanto per l’oggi quanto per il domani, investendo sul classe 2006 pensando soprattutto alla sua crescita.”
Tuttomercatoweb on the goalkeeping strategy:
“Mascardi come detto rappresenta un investimento soprattutto in prospettiva futura, ma il Torino è a caccia anche di un portiere titolare per il presente; in rosa però con Mascardi ci sarebbero appunto 3 portieri, e quindi è da capire quale sarebbe la strategia granata.”
Where Next?
Torino’s goalkeeping priority is clarity. Perri has been a reliable stopgap, but he is not the long-term answer. Mascardi has the potential, but he is not yet ready. Israel’s future is uncertain, and Siviero is a development project.
The summer of 2027 will be decisive. Perri’s loan will expire, and Torino will need to decide whether to invest in a permanent replacement or hand the gloves to Mascardi. The teenager’s development over the next 18 months will determine which path the club takes.
For now, Torino have a settled goalkeeping department: a dependable starter, a promising heir, and an experienced veteran. The record books show a team that is conceding more goals than it would like, but one that is also competing in Serie A. The challenge for Abate is to ensure that the goalkeeping department remains a source of stability—not a source of uncertainty—as the club navigates the seasons ahead.
