Buffon
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 02: Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus FC gestures during the Coppa Italia semi-final match between FC Internazionale and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 2, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Gianluigi Buffon Leaving Juventus Again at the End of the Season

Gianluigi Buffon will not re-up his contract with Juventus and will either retire or play elsewhere next season. The legendary goalkeeper announced his farewell in an interview with Bein Sport: “I have already decided my future. My time in Turin will come to a definitive end this year.”

However, he did not shut the door on signing for another club: “I will certainly consider a destination that could provide new motivations. Otherwise, I will just hang my gloves up. I have given everything and received as much from the Bianconeri. We have arrived at the end of a cycle, and it is only fair for me to leave.”

“I was tempted to go be a starter for a Champions League side in September and I told the club, but I had already committed to them and I am a correct person, plus they hired Andrea Pirlo. I decided to stay to help out, but the last two years have been tough for me.” 

Buffon commented on the disappointing season: “We lacked consistency, we went toe-to-toe with the best clubs, but we dropped points in silly fashion in easier games. This means we still have to grow and mature.” On Cristiano Ronaldo: “I have a great relationship with him, I like him a lot. He scored a ton of goals this year, as always. Then it is clear that any player can be affected by the team’s performance.”

The goalkeeper returned to the Old Lady as a backup in 2019 after a campaign with PSG. He has accumulated 27 appearances in the last two seasons and could add a couple more down the stretch. He first joined the Old Lady from Parma in 2001. He contributed to a record-breaking ten Scudetti, five Coppa Italia, and seven Supercoppa Italiana. He won Ligue 1 with PSG and the UEFA Cup with Parma, on top of the 2006 World Cup with Italy.