Keeper to end 17-year stay after ‘wonderful adventure’
Buffon set to defer retirement after Juve departure
Juventus captain
Gianluigi Buffon is leaving the Italian champions and considering playing elsewhere.
Buffon, who is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, was expected to announce his retirement at a news conference with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
Instead, while the 40-year-old Buffon says the Serie A match against Verona on Saturday will be his last for Juventus, he has received offers to play elsewhere which have changed his mind about retiring.
“[On] Saturday I will play a match and that is the only thing that’s certain,” Buffon said. “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 for staying on the pitch was proposed to me by Agnelli. I’ll let these three days pass and then I will make a definitive decision, completely calmly.”
Buffon, who made his debut with Parma in 1995, has been at Juventus since 2001 and 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,” he added. “I am a competitive animal and I wouldn’t be able to live in that situation. I wouldn’t feel at ease.”
Buffon retired from the national team in November when Italy lost a World Cup play-off to Sweden but recently returned for friendlies. He was an integral member of the Italy squad that won the 2006 World Cup. Buffon could bid the national team goodbye in a friendly on 4 June against the Netherlands.
Buffon also used the press conference to apologise for offending English referee Michael Oliver with his behaviour during and after the dramatic Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid.
The goalkeeper was sent off by Oliver after confronting the referee over a late penalty awarded to Real, and converted by Cristiano Ronaldo. Buffon is the subject of a Uefa misconduct charge for criticising Oliver following the tie, notably saying he had a “rubbish bin for a heart.”
“It is obvious that I have transgressed and I am sorry,” Buffon said. “But it was a very special situation. I couldn’t do anything else but say those things and I am sorry to have offended the referee.” Uefa will deal with Buffon’s case on 31 May.