Gianluigi Buffon (143 Viewers)

Cerval

Senior Member
Feb 20, 2016
26,829
Gianluigi Buffon insists he didn’t join Paris Saint-Germain for one last payday - “I will never prostitute my ideals and dreams for money”.

The goalkeeper was expected to retire in the summer, but while he did leave Juventus he opted to continue his career with the Ligue 1 champions.

“There’s always a bit of envy, that’s human too,” Buffon told Corriere della Sera, when asked about those who say he joined for money.

“The first rule is not to be conditioned by the judgements and ideas of others. I will never prostitute my ideals and dreams for money. If I was going to then I’d have done it long before now.

“Money is important, it’s a means to live better, but I’m not venal.

“They thought I was a madman, or a statue only missing the pigeons. My enthusiasm makes me young though, and if I want to continue I can’t be like an old grandpa.

“Sometimes I’m more ‘stupid’ than someone who is 20 and people don’t realise my age.

“I’m very proud to be here, because to receive an offer from a club like this is a big satisfaction. I always gave my best, I am sure I behaved well and life rewarded me with this bonus.”

Buffon has been alternating with Alphonse Areola this season, isn’t that strange?

“With the difference in our age and perspectives there’s no competition, only synergy and even friendship.

“Areola is an exceptional goalkeeper and a person of infinite goodness that melts me. When he plays he’s happy, and I’m also here to help him become a reference point for France and in Europe.

“The reception I’ve had has been extraordinary, people stop me to thank me and at 40 that’s incredible. That there’s a part of the world that still considers you important is an added value.”

PSG are aiming to win the Champions League, and that’s also the one big trophy missing from their goalkeeper’s cabinet…

“Only at the end of my career will I tell you what the Champions League was for me,” Buffon said.

“That said, I didn't come here to win it, because if I had I would not have understood anything. I hope to bring something more and improve upon what’s been done up to now, that would be important.”

Buffon has never played outside of Italy before, and he was asked how he views his homeland from outside.

“I have a kind of soft spot for all our faults. We are a beautiful people, although inconsistent, impulsive, and sometimes nonsensical.

“If a boat sinks in Lampedusa and 300 people die, we’re moved and even think about adopting the orphaned children.

“But if it doesn’t sink we complain about the arrival of 300 immigrants and ask what they’re here to do…

“The racism at San Siro? These are indecent things, and of course I’m not referring to Milanese people, but those who now have hatred rooted inside them and let it out when cheering in the stadium.

“There’s no need to demagogue, but we need zero tolerance or we’ll find ourselves surrounded by even worse people.

“Football probably has nothing to do with all this, it’s a much more serious and complex subject. There are seeds of hatred being sown everywhere, including in the stadiums.

“Would I go into politics? I’ve learned never to say never. You have to be selfless inside, and I think I’ve always been that.

“I’d like to carve out a small space where I can be a tool for dreams or for help. But I still don’t know what that will be.”
 
Mar 9, 2006
29,039
What's wrong with it?
Everyone understands that he went to PSG for the money and we all fine with it, he deserves it, yet in every interview he is trying to find an excuse for this move and explain that its not about the money but about the opportunity, then why you didn't sign an empty contract with minimum wage? Stop this annoying bullshit. He already had a good offer from Juve to become one of the directors but instead he went to PSG for the money, that's it, case closed.
 

Juventino[RUS]

Senior Member
Mar 9, 2006
29,039

Vlad

In Allegri We Trust
May 23, 2011
23,990
He wanted to play, we didnt offer him that... Everyone did what they felt was best for them. No hard feelings. A lot of times these players dont know when to stop, it's a big part of their life. Money he earns st PSG is great as well but he would have played here for less and did play for less.
 

The Quazis

Senior Member
Dec 21, 2012
5,568
I also think the PSG offer was a great opportunity and I'm happy for him. If I were him I'd also go to Paris instead of retiring. He has plenty of time to be a white collar yet very little to remain a footballer.

His ideological speeches are terrible though. He's detached from reality as a celebrity. He'd be a terrible politician in my opinion.
 

Cerval

Senior Member
Feb 20, 2016
26,829
Buffon : "It would be beautiful and strange (to play against Juve in UCL). If it was the final though it’d be hard to manage things after the game: I’d want to have the freedom to cheer wildly in case of victory.”
 

Elvin

Senior Member
Nov 25, 2005
36,923
I also think the PSG offer was a great opportunity and I'm happy for him. If I were him I'd also go to Paris instead of retiring. He has plenty of time to be a white collar yet very little to remain a footballer.

His ideological speeches are terrible though. He's detached from reality as a celebrity. He'd be a terrible politician in my opinion.
Yeah, he's too emotional and self-absorbed for that.
 

zizinho

Senior Member
Apr 14, 2013
51,816
Buffon: 'When I faced Chiesa...'
By Football Italia staff
Buffon-1706-conf-wink-epa_3.jpg
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Gianluigi Buffon admits when Federico Chiesa, son of former teammate Enrico, made his Serie A debut against him, “I thought it might be time to retire.”
Federico was born in October 1997, at a time when Enrico was teammates with Buffon at Parma.
He made his Serie A debut for Fiorentina against Juventus in August 2016, at the age of 18 years and nine months.
“The first time I faced Chiesa, I was disoriented. It was my first time playing against the son of a former teammates and I thought it might be time to retire,” 41-year-old Buffon told Eurosport.
“However, I’ve taken on a few now and consider it a gift from life, something to be happy about.”
Now at Paris Saint-Germain, Buffon has also taken on the son of old Juve teammate Lilian Thuram.
https://www.football-italia.net/132863/buffon-when-i-faced-chiesa
 

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