Gianluigi Buffon

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Buffon appreciates Italy focus

Oct 11, 2011

Gigi Buffon admires Italy

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Buffon has shoulder injury

Oct 20, 2011

Gianluigi Buffon is in doubt to face Genoa on Saturday after the Juventus goalkeeper hurt his shoulder in training.

The official club website released a note confirming Buffon

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Leali on Buffon

Oct 21, 2011

Brescia teenager Nicola Leali has spoken about comparisons with Gigi Buffon and transfer links with Barcelona.

Already baptised as the

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Frey is excellent, but Buffon better

Oct 21, 2011

Genoa

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Buffon likely to miss Inter clash

Oct 22, 2011

Gianluigi Buffon

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Buffon: 'Crazy to talk about Scudetto'

Nov 3, 2011

Gianluigi Buffon has played down both Juventus' title credentials and that the weekend's meeting with Napoli can be thought of as a title-decider.

The goalkeeper was talking to Sky Sport Italia when he reflected on Juve's strong start to the season that sees them top the table after nine games played.

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Italy to field three

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Buffon awaits Cassano return

Nov 7, 2011

Captain Gigi Buffon thinks Antonio Cassano could still make the difference for Italy at the 2012 European Championship.

The Milan man is currently recovering from minor heart surgery which could see him out of action for up to six months.

Cassano has been a key player for his country since the arrival of Cesare Prandelli as Coach, but his place at Euro 2012 is now in doubt.

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Buffon on loss of Cassano and Rossi

Nov 7, 2011

Gigi Buffon admits that Italy will miss Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi on and off the pitch over the next six months.

Milan man Cassano is recovering from minor heart surgery, while the Villarreal forward recently damaged knee ligaments.

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Gianluigi Buffon: Italy will miss Cassano & Rossi

The Juventus shot stopper is hoping the two strikers recover in time for Euro 2012

as he analyses what their absence from international duty means for the rest of the team.

Nov 8, 2011

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has described the void left by injured forwards Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi.

The Azzurri duo are out for the long term as Cassano is recovering from heart surgery, while Rossi is out with a knee injury.

Buffon is expecting their absences to be visible when the Azzurri play against Poland and Uruguay in their upcoming international friendlies, but hopes the two highly-rated strikers are back in time for Euro 2012.

"Rossi and Cassano will both be missed from a technical and personal point of view as they have always helped us greatly," Buffon told the press.

"My hope is that they will be able to travel with us to the European Championships.

"We will miss Cassano greatly as he always brings something to the team. He always wants to leave his mark and he makes the group happy with his polite exuberance which is always nice."

Italy play Poland on Friday night with kick-off scheduled for 20.45CET.

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Zoff shares Buffon record

Nov 13, 2011

Dino Zoff congratulates Gigi Buffon on matching his Italy caps record,

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Gianluigi Buffon proud to equal Dino Zoff

as Italy's third most-capped player

The experienced goalkeeper is set to represent La Nazionale

for the 112th time in Tuesday's international friendly versus Uruguay.

Nov 14, 2011

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is eagerly anticipating Tuesday's international friendly versus Uruguay as the Juventus star will equal the legendary Dino Zoff as the national side's third most-capped player in history.

Buffon made his Italy debut in 1997 and has since made 111 international appearances for the 2006 World Cup winners.

Zoff made 112 appearances for the Nazionale from 1968 until 1983 and Buffon is proud to equal the illustrious shot-stopper.

"Only two or three years ago I started to realise that I could really catch him. But when I made my Italy debut back in 1997 it was just a dream for me," Buffon was quoted as saying by uefa.com.

"Too much water needed to pass under the bridge for me to reach that historic figure. Zoff is a real legend, I'm very proud to reach this milestone."

The Juventus shot-stopper saved a spot-kick in Italy's 2-0 friendly win over Poland last week and is hopeful of repeating his heroics at Euro 2012.

"I have saved some penalties with the national team. I did it during the 2002 World Cup and at Euro 2008.

"I didn't manage it at the 2006 World Cup, but I hope to save some more important ones for Italy - maybe next summer at Euro 2012."

Tuesday's friendly between Italy and Uruguay kicks off at 20.45 CET.

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Zoff expected Buffon career

Nov 15, 2011

Italian legend Dino Zoff always expected Gigi Buffon to reach and then surpass his 112 caps for the Azzurri.

The current Juventus custodian will draw level with the former Juventus

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Buffon would bet on Milan

Nov 22, 2011

Speaking at a poker event, Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon says he’d bet on Milan winning Serie A this season.

The Old Lady are currently top of the table with Saturday’s opponents Lazio, one point ahead of the Rossoneri and Udinese.

However, the Italian international has insisted that the Stadio Meazza outfit are still the team to beat this term.

“If I had 10 chips to bet with then I’d place six on Milan, who are my favourites, then one each on Lazio, Napoli, Udinese and Juventus,” he stated.

Juve have impressed this term and they are contenders to win the Scudetto, but Buffon is eager to cool the enthusiasm in Turin.

“Boss Antonio Conte is the right croupier for Juventus, but I don’t want to make any promises because we have to win back credibility and respect,” said the ex-Parma man.

“Conte has given us some important lessons, he has Juventus in his blood, he has experienced some good and bad times in the club’s history. He has the experience we need.

“But right now we have the second best defence in the League and the second best attack – it means we are top in nothing.

“Ten games are not enough to say who we really are and we have to improve. Don’t forget that we have finished seventh for two seasons running…

“Last Christmas we were two points away from the leaders, two years ago we were leaders after six games.

“We have to find a level of consistency, otherwise we could be shipwrecked again. It’s better not to make too many promises.

“A vote for Juve? I’d give Juventus a six-and-a-half. As a goalkeeper, I’ll give myself nothing, but I’d say seven as a poker player…”

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AC Milan are still favourites for Serie A title - Buffon

The Bianconeri goalkeeper would still consider the Rossoneri as firm favourites

for the Scudetto, despite his own side's impressive early season performances.

Nov 22, 2011

Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon believes AC Milan are still the front runners for the Serie A title this season, despite the impressive start his own side have made.

The World Cup winner was asked by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport to name the sides he thought were in contention for the Scudetto.

"If I had ten chips I would put six on AC Milan, one on my Juventus, Udinese, Napoli and Lazio," the 33-year-old said.

"For me AC Milan are still huge favourites."

At the moment Juventus are currently joint top of Serie A alongside Lazio, while the Rossoneri sit a point behind in third place.

The Bianconeri can extend their lead at the top of the table due to having a game in hand on their rivals, as their match against Napoli earlier this month was postponed due to bad weather.

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Buffon: Neuer is the best goalkeeper in the world

The Juventus shot-stopper admits that the Bayern Munich man has surpassed his level,

but is relishing a run-in with his opposite number at some stage in the Euro 2012 finals.

Dec 2, 2011

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that Germany shot-stopper Manuel Neuer is the best No. 1 in the world.

However, the Juventus man believes that his nation can reach the final of Euro 2012, and hopes to face the Gelsenkirchen native when they get there. On Sky Sports News, Buffon greeted Neuer with praise.

"Ciao Manuel! You are the best goalkeeper in the world, I hope that both of us are in the Euro final," he said.

Buffon also sent a light-hearted plea to his opposite number, eagerly anticipating a meeting between the two.

"Please don't take it badly, but I must win!" he joked.

"I'm at the end of my career, you still have so much in front of you! I look forward to facing you!"

Buffon, 33, was part of the Italy side that hoisted the 2006 World Cup, but to date has yet to add the European Championship to his trophy cabinet.

25-year-old Neuer, meanwhile, reached the 2010 World Cup semi-final, and next summer will participate in his first European Championship.

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Buffon: Talk of winning the Scudetto this early in the season is 'crazy'

Despite the fact that the Turin club are top of Serie A and unbeaten after 13 league games,

the 33-year-old feels that talk of his side being likely winners is premature.

Dec 10, 2011

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has dismissed talk of his side winning the Scudetto as "crazy", stating that it is much too early to label them as Serie A champions-elect.

The Turin outfit are currently two points ahead of AC Milan and Udinese at the summit of the Italian top flight and are unbeaten after 13 games.

With a tricky fixture to come against an unpredictable Roma side at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night, the 33-year-old feels that speaking about where his team will end up at the culmination of the season is pointless.

“We need a great deal of calm here,” the Carrara-born keeper told Tuttosport.

“There are too many games to go, including the entire second half of the season.

“The road is too long and I really don’t want to take our fans for a ride. If I said that 'S-word', then I’d be crazy. I’m not just refusing to say it out of false modesty."

Buffon was also quick to remind fans of last season, when Juventus enjoyed a strong start to the campaign but fell away to end up finishing seventh.

“Don’t forget, in December last year we were in second place, then bad luck ran us down. So many injuries, at least six simultaneously, saw our season precipitate," the Italy international warned.

“After all, if we were to lose one or two important players, then we’d have to see if the team could make do without them.

“In those difficult moments, if they come, we can tell how good this squad really is," he concluded.

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Buffon: Saving Totti's penalty against Roma

was down to hard work in training

The veteran goalkeeper salvaged a point for the Turin club at the Stadio Olimpico

on Monday night, and admitted that luck plays only a small part when it comes to spot-kicks.

Dec 14, 2011

Gianluigi Buffon has revealed that he practices saving penalties on a daily basis during Juventus' training sessions, which helped him save Francesco Totti's spot-kick against Roma on Monday night.

The veteran goalkeeper blocked his fellow Italy international's effort in the second half to continue the Turin club's unbeaten record in Serie A this season in a 1-1 draw.

Although stating that luck plays a part in any penalty situation, he has also credited the save to the work done on the training field with his goalkeeping coach.

"It was a major incident," the 33-year-old told Gazetta Dello Sport.

"When there is a penalty to face, a little luck helps, but the daily hard work with [Claudio] Filippi on set-pieces was how I saved it."

Team-mate Claudio Marchisio was also full of praise for Buffon, who he feels was accountable for preserving Antonio Conte's men's unbeaten run.

"He is a great champion and he's showing it," Marchisio stated.

"And not just this year. He's in great shape, and the team got an important point in Rome due to him parrying Totti's effort.

"A goal could have meant defeat, we just drew. He had a great game," the midfielder concluded.

Juventus are level with Udinese on 30 points at the top of the Serie A table.

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No chip on Buffon shoulder

Dec 15, 2011

Juventus’ Gigi Buffon has insisted that he wouldn’t have been annoyed with Francesco Totti had the Roman tried a cheeky chip penalty against him on Monday.

The Italian international denied Totti from the spot after diving to his right following the captain’s decision to go for power rather than his previously seen delicacy.

“I wouldn’t have got angry had he decided to chip in the penalty,” the Bianconero told Sky Sport Italia on Thursday.

“That’s a very technical trick to pull off and it would have taken great courage. We’ve been friends for 15 years so I wouldn’t have been hacked off.

“He took the penalty like he normally does. Had he aimed it in the other direction then it would have gone in.”

Buffon is not widely recognised as a penalty saving expert, even if he’s unclear why such a view is held.

“Right now there are goalkeepers like Udinese’s Samir Handanovic and Stefano Sorrentino of Chievo who are doing mad things with penalties.

“However, I think I’ve saved about the right amount throughout my career so far.”

The former Parma player was also asked for his thoughts on Milan’s proposed swoop of Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez.

“Tevez would certainly improve the Milan attack, even if they don’t really have any issues in that sector as it is.”

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Buffon doubts Tevez worth

Dec 16, 2011

Gianluigi Buffon believes Juventus would not benefit from Carlos Tevez and has questioned Milan’s necessity to sign him either.

The wantaway Manchester City forward had been linked in recent weeks with both the Turin and Milan sides. The Rossoneri have put in an offer to take the Argentine in January and are now waiting on his club’s decision amid reported competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite the player’s goal-scoring record in recent seasons and the reportedly low price the player is available at - almost half his summer valuation - Buffon believes he is not a player that would add value to the Bianconeri.

“In the event that he is at Juve, I have no idea if he will improve us. In attack we are covered, in numbers and quality, and I do not know if someone like Tevez has other problems.

“To get great results, everyone needs to pull in the same direction and you have to set aside the ego and the self. Speak in the plural.”

The Italian goalkeeper, who recently equalled Dino Zoff’s caps record between the Azzurri sticks, also went on to question whether Milan need Tevez either.

“In attack Milan are so strong, they have no big problems - with Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Pato and then the returning Cassano and Inzaghi.

“In short, they are well covered. It is clear, though, that the assessment is their business.”

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Buffon: 'I'm not finished yet!'

Dec 24, 2011

Gianluigi Buffon has blasted the Juventus critics who said he was finished. “They’re peasants! As for the Scudetto, Milan remain the favourites.”

The goalkeeper gave a lengthy end of year interview to the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport looking back at a mixed 2011 for Juventus and ahead to 2012.

“There has been an evident change of direction from July onwards, but getting ahead of ourselves would be stupid,” said Buffon.

“We are not even halfway there and up until now the journey has been a strain in every respect, including psychologically. All it takes is a moment and you find yourself back on the floor. I never want to experience those first few months of 2011 again. It was awful.

“However, I wouldn’t blame Gigi Del Neri, as he is a great Coach and a good man. He was just unlucky. With a far weaker Juventus side than the current one, he was in the Scudetto race until December 2010, then in January it all went wrong. Endless injuries, heavy bans, we often ended up playing the youth team.”

Buffon is an open and gregarious person, but explains why he has been so quiet in the media over recent months.

“Some of you said I was finished. You know me, I am incapable of faking. In these 6-7 months I heard things that really hurt. There was also a grave lack of respect from people who haven’t the slightest thought for my career.

“History must never be cancelled. I tell some people that in 50 years, despite the bad period of form I went through recently, people will probably still be talking about Buffon. This means I’ve done something good. Those who tore me to shreds are just peasants!

“I want to deserve Juve for life. My objective is to stay, but only as the real Buffon. I’ve been here for over 10 years and will remain until I’m at least 34, so I’m proud of what I have achieved. You don’t stay this long at a top club if you lack quality.”

However, ‘SuperGigi’ is keeping his feet on the ground when it comes to 2012.

“Milan remain the favourites for me. Our primary focus is returning to the Champions League, as that is the priority. After finishing seventh twice in a row, nobody thought we’d have this position at the end of December.

“As for Euro 2012, I’ve been enthusiastic about this Nazionale for a while. I like the way we play and Cesare Prandelli’s new philosophy.”

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Sirigu: It is nearly impossible to reach the level of Buffon

Paris Saint-Germain keeper is of the opinion that the Italy No.1 is still arguably

the best in his profession, and says it will be difficult to ever be on a par with him.

Jan 2, 2012

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu has confessed that it will be a near-impossible task to reach the level of Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon.

The 24-year-old feels that Buffon has set the bar so high that he may never be able to better the illustrious shot stopper once his playing days are over.

"Buffon is still one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world, if not the absolute best. He has the ability to remain at the highest level for many years. For now, it is impossible to reach his level," Sirigu was quoted as saying by Le Parisien.

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Buffon sees renewed Juve respect

Jan 8, 2012

Gigi Buffon trusts Juventus are now “respected again by fans and opponents” as he welcomes Marco Borriello.

The Bianconeri ended 2011 as joint Serie A leaders with Milan and are still unbeaten, which is a remarkable achievement for a club that finished seventh for two years in a row.

“First of all we wanted to be respected again by fans and opponents, which I think we achieved. We never said going into the season that the Scudetto was our objective,” the goalkeeper told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

“I am very happy that Borriello has arrived. Marco will be hungry to prove Roma made a mistake in letting him go. He will certainly be an extra weapon for the team.”

Buffon also cast his eye over the other big transfer story of the month so far, as Milan continue to push for Manchester City outcast Carlos Tevez.

“I wouldn’t be surprised. They lost Antonio Cassano and he is not a player you can replace with the first one who comes along. In top sides you replace champions with other champions.”

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Buffon: Juventus have 'a desire to surprise, to sweat, to exact revenge'

The goalkeeper has commented on his side's unbeaten run this season, which has led

the Old Lady to the top of the table, emphasising hard work as the key.

Jan 19, 2012

Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that Juventus' success is down to motivation and the mindset that coach Antonio Conte has brought to the side.

Partly due to Buffon's excellent form, Juve reside first in Serie A and have not lost a single match throughout the season in the campaign.

Speaking to Juventus' official website, the shot-stopper notes that just a short while ago, this would be less noteworthy: "Now it's something new, but up until a few years ago we were used to a situation like this, and it's nice to find ourselves here again."

After years in the Calcio wilderness following relegation to Serie B and finding their feet again in Serie A, Juventus are finally looking like possible Scudetto contenders, which Buffon attributes to his team's mentality.

"We're managing to do it thanks to the desire to surprise, to sweat, and to exact revenge," he said. "It's true that the defence is doing well, but that's thanks to the work of the whole team who press the opposition."