Pierluigi Gollini, the Roma goalkeeper who is also known as the rapper “Gollorius,” has the opportunity to star in his career by facing Real Madrid in the Champions League. MileSvilar's injury, which has left the Serbian goalkeeper out of action after a fracture in the fifth toe, opens the door for Gollini for the next match at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Gollini arrived at Roma in January 2025 from Atalanta, where he had been loaned to four different clubs. During his stay in the Italian capital, he has remained in the shadow of Svilar, the starter who has been the key piece of the team's defense. Svilar's injury, which will require at least a month of recovery according to coach GianPiero Gasperini, has changed the goalkeeping hierarchy and given Gollini the opportunity to demonstrate his quality on a high-level stage.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper made the most of his first start of the season in the match against Como, where Roma achieved a 0-0 draw despite the expulsion of Donyell Malen and the numerical inferiority. Gollini made several worthwhile interventions and showed a good performance, which gave him confidence for the litmus test against KylianMbappé and his teammates. Gasperini, in a press conference, praised Gollini's mental preparation and his ability to start the game with his feet and hands, highlighting that the goalkeeper "has the opportunity to demonstrate his consistency."
In addition to his football career, Gollini has maintained an active musical presence. In 2018 he released his first single “Rappercoiguanti”, with proceeds going towards the rehabilitation of his childhood fields in PoggioRenatico. Four years later, he collaborated with rapper VegasJones on “ChampionsDream”, a song that combines his sporting career with his passion for music. The video was filmed at Tottenham's stadium, where Gollini had played on loan the previous season, and reflects his rise from the local fields to the Champions League.
The next match with Real Madrid represents a second opportunity for Gollini to defend his European dream, having dreamed of it in 2022. The goalkeeper had already faced the white team with Atalanta in February 2021, where he managed to stop a header from Casemiro before a shot from FerlandMendy broke the tie. With the accumulated experience and the coach's confidence, Gollini prepares to assume responsibility for Roma's goal in the competition that has inspired him both in his career and in his music.