"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!"