Viviano ‘smelt of alcohol’ before Everton-Arsenal, but Inter the only regret | OneFootball

Former Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano says that leaving Inter was the only regret of his playing career, while once he ‘smelled of alcohol’ before an Arsenal game against Everton, for which he had unexpectedly been called up.

Former Italian goalkeeper Viviano spoke about his playing career in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Viviano played for several Serie A clubs in his career, including Palermo, Fiorentina, Bologna and Sampdoria.

He also spent six months at Inter in the second half of the 2011-12 campaign. However, he never made his debut with the Nerazzurri, joining Palermo in the summer of 2012.

Viviano: ‘Leaving Inter my only regret’

“In my career, I made several decisions with my gut, and leaving Inter is the only regret I have,” Viviano said.

GENOA, GE – DECEMBER 17: Emiliano Viviano Sampdoria goalkeeper during the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and US Sassuolo at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 17, 2017 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Rattini/Getty Images)

“I never played because I did everything I could to leave, against the wishes of the club. Julio Cesar was in his final year, and they were looking toward something new. They even told me so, but I didn’t believe them.

“I always carried a kind of anger inside me,” he continued.

“Today, I’m calmer, I’ve learned to be this way also by reflecting on that side of my character, zero diplomacy, which, even when I was right, ended up putting me in the wrong. And it affected my career.”

Viviano was Arsenal’s third-choice goalkeeper in the 2013-14 campaign, but never played a match for the Gunners.

“At Arsenal, there was Wenger. I was expecting something revolutionary,” Viviano said.

“In terms of approach, he was a normal coach, but I didn’t play because Szczesny had an incredible season, and there was also Fabianski.”

Viviano recalled what happened the night before an away Premier League match against Everton, for which he was not supposed to be called up.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Arsene Wenger, French former football player and manager and current FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, is seen in attendance prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

“I went out partying and around 2 am, I stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and read an SMS: ‘Fabianski is ill, a car will come to pick you up at 6:30 am.’

“I had drunk half a bottle of vodka. I went to my friend who owned the club and showed him the message. He asked: ‘What now?’ I replied: ‘Now bring me more vodka.’ I got home, had a shower, and when I arrived in the dressing room in Liverpool, the great Santi Cazorla told me: ‘You smell of alcohol, it’s disgusting.’ It was the only time in my life I almost had a panic attack. I couldn’t see anything and kept repeating myself: ‘If I have to play, my career is over.'”

Viviano left Arsenal in 2014 to join Sampdoria, where he spent the following four seasons.

The former goalkeeper retired in 2024 after collecting 251 appearances in Serie A and 166 in Serie B.