LEGENDA
BUFFON
ONE ON ONE
WIDELY REGARDED AS THE GREATEST GOALKEEPER OF ALL TIME. GIANLUIGI BUFFON SPEAKS WITH DAVID WHITE AND EXCLUSIVELY TELLS
SOCCER 360 WHY IT WAS AN EASY DECISION TO “COME HOME” IN THE SUMMER, JUST HOW GOOD RONALDO IS, AND WHO HE TIPS
FOR EURO 2020.HOW EASY WAS THE DECISION TO
RETURN TO JUVENTUS LAST SUMMER
AFTER ONE YEAR WITH PSG?
It was coming home – that is the way I can
describe it. It was one of the happiest days
of my life – and shows that even as you get
older you should never stop dreaming.YOUR HUNGER IS STILL THE SAME
FOR TROPHIES?
If my hunger was not the same to win
trophies, then I would not be playing – that
really would be time to retire. My hunger
for success with Juventus is the same as my
first season with them all those years ago.HOW WAS THE SEASON YOU SPENT
IN PARIS?
PSG are a great club – and to spend a year
playing outside of Italy really helped me to
grow. I was shown so much warmth from
the club and the fans – and I will always be
thankful to them.HE HAS BEEN CALLED YOUR
NATURAL SUCCESSOR FOR THE
NATIONAL TEAM – JUST HOW GOOD
CAN DONNARUMMA BE?
For anybody that has watched him you
can see that he is a goalkeeper with an
extraordinary talent. I have been watching
him since he was young – but it is importantto remember he is still very young and that
there is not too much pressure on him and
that he gets time to develop.DEL PIERO, MBAPPE, NEYMAR
YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH SOME
WONDERFUL PLAYERS IN YOUR
CAREER. JUST HOW SPECIAL IS IT
THAT YOU NOW GET TO PLAY WITH
RONALDO?
Getting the chance to play in the same
team as Cristiano is a gift – that is the only
way I can describe it. He has been playing
at the highest level for so long – and he
shows no signs of slowing down.YOU HAVE WON THE BIGGEST
TROPHIES IN THE GAME
BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY. HOWEVER- THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HAS
EVADED YOU – DO YOU STILL HAVE
DREAMS OF LIFTING IT?
Of course, any player would dream of
winning The Champions League – but I
don’t look at it as evading me. I would
like to win it – but even without it I am so
grateful for all the success in my career.
YOU WERE THE MOST EXPENSIVE
GOALKEEPER IN THE WORLD FOR A
LONG TIME – BUT NOW A NUMBER OFOTHER KEEPERS HAVE OVERTAKEN
THAT FEE. WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF THE FEES BEING PAID FOR
GOALKEEPERS?
Players don’t think so much about fees
they are the business of the clubs. What I
will say is that a top goalkeeper can be as
important to a team as a top striker – so I
understand the fees.WHAT WOULD A 25-YEAR-OLD
BUFFON BE WORTH NOW?
(Laughs) I have no idea – that would be up
to the club!YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
MENTAL STRENGTH GOALKEEPERS
NEED. WHY MORE SO THAN OTHER
POSITIONS?
Other positions you make an error and
maybe it doesn’t mean anything – but as a
goalkeeper an error usually leads to a goal.
When that happens, you need a mental
strength to put that behind you.LOOKING AHEAD TO THE SUMMER –
WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR
EURO 2020?
I always will hope for Italy and we have
some good players – but I think France and
Belgium will be strong.