When Roma signed Mile Svilar in July 2022, even they might not have realised they were welcoming a goalkeeper who would go on to play 100 games for the club.
At the time of his arrival on a free transfer after leaving Benfica, Svilar was identified as the defined backup option to Rui Patrício in Roma’s squad. Given that Patrício had been ever-present in the Serie A season just gone and fundamental to the Europa Conference League triumph, the newcomer was expected to be a deputy.
And that’s how it unfolded – for around 18 months. Svilar made three Serie A appearances and one in the Europa League during his debut season, and that was that.
The Belgian-born, one-time Serbia international had been tied down to a five-year contract upon his arrival at Roma, perhaps a sign of confidence that he could have a long-term future as Patrício’s successor.
But the life of a backup goalkeeper isn’t always all it’s made out to be and it’s never a guarantee that they’ll graduate into a first-choice role.
The thought resides on when Daniel Fuzato joined Roma in 2018, hailed by Monchi as someone capable of representing the first team. But the Brazilian began as third choice, had to wait two years for his debut, and even after showing small glimpses of potential, wouldn’t reach double figures of appearances for Roma before moving on.
In contrast, Svilar slowly but surely staked his claim for prominence at Roma and has turned out to be better than forecasted.
When Patrício’s form began to decline during the 2023-24 season, it led to a call by Daniele De Rossi – although José Mourinho may have been flirting with the idea too just before being sacked, as evidenced by the last lineup he chose in charge of Roma – to give Svilar a chance.
Roma’s number 99 has never looked back.
For the second half of that breakthrough season, Svilar brought more security to Roma, whose form on the whole stabilised in turn.
Thus, when Patrício was released that summer, Roma didn’t sign a new first-choice goalkeeper. They stuck with Svilar. And this time, it was his turn to go on and enjoy an ever-present season in Serie A.
By the end of the 2024-25 campaign, Svilar wasn’t just being recognised as Roma’s internal solution. He was being awarded the accolade of being the best goalkeeper in the whole league.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a moment of pride for Roma fans, some of whom had wanted Patrício to be phased out earlier than he was, and now felt frustrated that the answer had been hiding in plain sight all along. By now, 18 months since the change of hierarchy and 12 months since Patrício’s exit, there was more than enough evidence of Svilar’s ability.
But that pride was weighed down to a degree by paranoia. As stated, Patrício’s debut season in 2021-22 had been encouraging, but the efforts of Svilar in 2024-25? Roma hadn’t seen anything like it since the days of Alisson in 2017-18. And what did that lead to? The protagonist being bought by a club with more titles and financial muscle.
Given Roma’s struggles to replace Alisson after his move to Liverpool, they couldn’t afford to have Svilar snatched away from them. Fortunately, this time there was a different outcome; he signed a contract extension until 2030.
Thus, in November 2025, he reached the landmark of 100 appearances for Roma – a feat only achieved by 11 other goalkeepers in the club’s history (only three of whom played for the club this side of the turn of the Millennium, in the shape of Patrício, Doni and Francesco Antonioli).
He celebrated with a clean sheet against Udinese, his 37th since joining Roma. On the flipside, he has conceded 97 goals, giving him a ratio just below one per game. From his first century of appearances, Svilar can boast 306 saves.
This is a guardian who has kept Roma in games when they’ve been struggling, or helped them retain a position of dominance when in better form. And this has all come from an origin story where he wasn’t even a starter straight away.
Now he has a century of appearances to his name. The question is, how many more does he have in his Roma future?
Might there be another 100, or will one of the big clubs get clued up and prise him away?
Despite the contract renewal, that will remain the fear in the backs of the minds of the Roman faithful if Svilar preserves his form throughout the rest of this season too.
The goalkeeper market can be quite volatile, so certain clubs will be attentive. From a shot-stopping perspective, few in circulation have been as consistent as Svilar over the past couple of years.
Ironically, one of the few downsides to Svilar’s game might be what helps keep him at Roma. While he isn’t terrible with the ball at his feet, his distribution isn’t at the exceptional level that Alisson’s was, for example.
Most of the elite clubs these days want their goalkeeper to be good with their feet, and Svilar doesn’t quite exude that same layer of confidence.
Not that it should bother Roma too much. His shot-stopping strengths outweigh what he sometimes lacks in being able to launch attacks with a pass. Besides, it’s not something he outright can’t do, it’s just an area to work on.
For now, Roma can continue to enjoy Svilar’s services. He admitted after signing his new deal in the summer that he never entertained any thought of going elsewhere.
Roma will hope that remains the case for years to come.
Then, the question will be – as some fans are already asking – where he ranks among the club’s best goalkeepers of all time. In truth, there haven’t been many absolute greats to grace the gloves in Rome – Alisson reached incredible heights over the short term, while more historic figures like Guido Masetti and Franco Tancredi are remembered as Scudetto winners, but beyond that, it’s open to personal preference – and as stated, only a handful have made it to 100 games, so Svilar already has a case of being in the conversation.
Being part of a Roma side that finally plays in the Champions League again might help boost any judgements, so there’s something to strive towards. But on a technical level, the 26-year-old has already provided plenty of ways to impress.
However further this journey goes, Roma have every reason to be thankful for Svilar and his service over these first 100 games together.
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