Although currently injured, Gianluigi Buffon remains essential. At 44, the stainless transalpine goalkeeper continues to stretch his immense career in Parma, in Serie B, without yet pronouncing the word retirement: “These last years, for me, have been pure pleasure”, says t- he did so in an interview given to our colleagues at AFP. The 2006 world champion also speaks about the meeting which will oppose his forever club, Juventus Turin, in which he spent two decades, and PSG, whose colors he wore in 2018-2019.
If he had to choose which jersey to wear for this meeting, Buffon is clear: “Juve, I spent my life there, there is inevitably a strong bond, built with everything we lived together for twenty year. But I also have special memories of Paris, of my teammates, of the supporters. It was one of the best experiences of my life as a footballer and as a man. What is unfortunate is that this match will not count that much (Juve is eliminated, PSG already qualified). »
Inevitably, at the end of an XXL performance against Maccabi Haifa, the question of whether the capital club has the means to finally lift the cup with big ears, Buffon has his opinion: “I cannot say if it is the right season! Every year seems to be the right one. Paris, in the last seven or eight seasons, has always had a team that could have won. But from there to succeeding, there are details, which sometimes also depend on luck. But every year Paris sets out to win”.
Already out of competition, Juve is stagnating in Serie A (7th, 10 points from Naples) despite a success (1-0) on Saturday in Lecce: “It’s a very difficult season and major injuries have complicated things, says “Gigi”. Knowing football, I think you can’t understand what the problem could be and what the solution could be without living in the locker room and without knowing the dynamics between the coach and the players”.
Finally, the man with 176 caps with the Squadra Azzura gives his opinion on his successor, Gianluigi Donnarumma, now in the cages of the capital club: “He seems more serene since he started at PSG. It was the good decision by the club. He is progressing very well, with a very good goalkeeper coach who will help him grow. Being a starter gives you greater strength, not feeling under scrutiny in each game. Even if the one who suffers from it, it’s Keylor (Navas), who is also a very great goalkeeper, I’m sorry to see him still on the bench”.