Buffon hints his career may not yet be over
‘Exciting’ offers are tempting goalkeeper
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon will play his last match for the Italian champion on Saturday and has put off retirement to consider offers to continue to play overseas.
Buffon, who is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, was expected to announce his retirement at a news conference in Turin on Thursday.
Instead, while the 40-year-old Buffon says the Serie A match against Hellas Verona on Saturday will be his last for Juventus, he has received “exciting” offers which have changed his mind about hanging up his gloves.
“(On) Saturday I will play a match and that is the only thing that’s certain,” said Buffon, who teared up at the start of the conference after an emotional tribute from Juventus president Andrea Agnelli.
“Until about two weeks ago, I was certain I would stop playing. Now offers have arrived that are exciting on and off the pitch, and the most important was proposed to me by Agnelli.
“I’ll let these three days pass and then I will make a definitive decision, in complete calm, and which will be one that calls to my personality and my nature.”
Buffon made his debut with Parma in 1995, and has been at Juventus since 2001.
He has ruled out moving to another Italian club or dropping down the divisions.
“I am not someone who thinks it is right to end my career in who knows what third or fourth level division,” Buffon added.
“I am a competitive animal and I wouldn’t be able to live in that situation. I wouldn’t feel at ease.”
Buffon has been linked with a move to Liverpool, which could offer the former Italy captain the chance to win the Champions League — one of the few trophies missing from his glittering collection, which includes the 2006 World Cup.
He’s appeared in three Champions League finals and lost them all.