Donnarumma sights Italy gloves as Buffon sets date
MILAN: AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma moved a virtual step closer to taking over as Italy’s number one goalkeeper after Azzurri legend Gianluigi Buffon said he is likely to retire in 2018.
Juventus shot- stopper Buffon earned his 167th cap in a goalless friendly with Germany last month – when Donnarumma played the second half to make his second Azzurri appearance – to pull level with retired Spain legend and fellow goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Buffon is now just 17 caps behind world record- holder Ahmed Hassan of Egpyt (184), a tally he may just overtake depending on how Italy fare at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
In comments to Premium Sport, Buffon said: “My idea is to leave football as a player after the 2018 World Cup. I’m pretty sure of it.”
Buffon said there was “only a remote possibility” he could extend his long and storied career beyond that date.
Given the emergenc e o f Donnarumma, a 17-year- old who pushed Diego Lopez aside at AC Milan last season to become the seven-time European champions’ number one between the sticks, Buffon’s announcement comes as little surprise.
He was largely expected to retire from the game after the 2018 World Cup, where Donnarumma – now in his second season in Italy’s top flight – could showcase his skills to a global audience.
Buffon recently became a father for the third time and last month hinted he could go on to coach Italy.
“A coaching role and all that it entails on a daily basis wouldn’t appeal to me,” Buffon said in an interview with Corriere della Sera. “But I wouldn’t exclude a national team coaching role: I would still be involved in the game but have some freedom to dedicate myself to other things.” — AFP