“The arrival of Cristiano made us lose that DNA of being a team”

Gigi Buffon is on the way to being eternal under the sticks. The Parma goalkeeper, with whom he dropped to Serie B after a brief second spell at Juventus, is now 43 years old, but does not seem to be thinking about retiring. In the interview with TUDN, he revealed what his next favorite destinations would be. “I would like to play in Mexico or the United States. I would like to have these experiences, but we will see what happens,” he said.

He also explained his plans for the future and what keeps him still playing. “The fact that I didn’t win the Champions League is what keeps my competitive spirit alive. I am in good shape and I respect my profession for it. Maybe if I had won the Champions League I would have already retired because I would not have any important goal to achieve. Tomorrow? I do not know if I will be a manager or a coach, “he adds.

He also explained how he believes that Cristiano affected Juventus and made the Turin team lose their team DNA due to their great influence. “Juventus had the opportunity to win the Champions League the first year it arrived, which was the year I was in Paris. I can’t tell you what happened. When I came back, I worked with Cristiano for two years and we did well together, but I think Juventus lost that DNA of being a team. When we reached the Champions League final in 2017 it was because we were an experienced team and we functioned as a unit. There was that competition within the group for places in the eleven. We lost that to Ronaldo, “he said.

When they made him choose a goalkeeper, he was left with the one who is seen as his heir, Donnarumma. “Oblak, Courtois, Neuer, Ter Stegen, Donnarumma, Navas. I have none that is above the rest. Donnarumma is the one who can climb that rung, he has the potential to stand out from the crowd within a year, “he explained.