Woah, that's a major surprise. I'm glad that Buffon is staying. He's a top player and hopefully others will make the same decision.
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Gianluigi Buffon (14 Viewers)
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(ANSA) - Rome, July 19 - Italy's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is going to stick with scandal-tainted Juventus, which was relegated to the second division last week .
"Gianluigi is staying at Juventus. He is willing to play in Serie B," Buffon's agent Silvano Martina said on Wednesday. "It is a division he has never won and he wants to try to do this". The news is an unexpected boost to the Turin outfit, which is being punished for the former management's part in a match-fixing ring .
Buffon, who lived up to his billing as the world's best keeper at Germany 2006, was expected to join an exodus of stars moving elsewhere to continue playing top-flight soccer .
Over the last few days the Italian sports press has reported that his transfer to AC Milan is imminent. On Wednesday former European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved also told Juve he is ready to ply his trade with the club in Serie B next season .
Azzurri star and club legend Alessandro Del Piero will probably stay too .
As well as relegation to the second division and the loss of the 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles, Juventus will have to start the upcoming campaign with a 30-point penalty. So the Turin giants will probably be out of the top flight for two seasons and the Champions League for three .
This is bound to be a big turn-off for many of the club's stars, especially those who are reaching the latter stages of their careers .
Azzurri World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro is expected to be among the first to leave. According to the Italian sports press, the 32-year-old - arguably the best player at Germany 2006 - is about to join former Juventus boss Fabio Capello at Real Madrid. The Spanish club is also reportedly hoping to snap up another world champ, left-back Gianluca Zambrotta, along with Brazil midfielder Emerson. Milan and Barcelona are said to be after Zambrotta too. France defender Lilian Thuram has said that there is "little chance" of him playing in Serie B. He is thought to be a Barcelona target as well .
Inter Milan is reportedly planning a bid for Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and France midfielder Patrick Vieira .
Juve is appealing against the punishment handed out by the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) tribunal last Friday .
But pundits say that, while the points penalty may be softened, it is highly unlikely the club will be reinstated into Serie A .
Fiorentina and Lazio were also relegated by the tribunal, with 12- and seven-point penalties respectively .
Milan was found guilty too, but it got off lighter - the team owned by former premier Silvio Berlusconi will play in Serie A, but it will start next season at -15 points .
"Gianluigi is staying at Juventus. He is willing to play in Serie B," Buffon's agent Silvano Martina said on Wednesday. "It is a division he has never won and he wants to try to do this". The news is an unexpected boost to the Turin outfit, which is being punished for the former management's part in a match-fixing ring .
Buffon, who lived up to his billing as the world's best keeper at Germany 2006, was expected to join an exodus of stars moving elsewhere to continue playing top-flight soccer .
Over the last few days the Italian sports press has reported that his transfer to AC Milan is imminent. On Wednesday former European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved also told Juve he is ready to ply his trade with the club in Serie B next season .
Azzurri star and club legend Alessandro Del Piero will probably stay too .
As well as relegation to the second division and the loss of the 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles, Juventus will have to start the upcoming campaign with a 30-point penalty. So the Turin giants will probably be out of the top flight for two seasons and the Champions League for three .
This is bound to be a big turn-off for many of the club's stars, especially those who are reaching the latter stages of their careers .
Azzurri World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro is expected to be among the first to leave. According to the Italian sports press, the 32-year-old - arguably the best player at Germany 2006 - is about to join former Juventus boss Fabio Capello at Real Madrid. The Spanish club is also reportedly hoping to snap up another world champ, left-back Gianluca Zambrotta, along with Brazil midfielder Emerson. Milan and Barcelona are said to be after Zambrotta too. France defender Lilian Thuram has said that there is "little chance" of him playing in Serie B. He is thought to be a Barcelona target as well .
Inter Milan is reportedly planning a bid for Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and France midfielder Patrick Vieira .
Juve is appealing against the punishment handed out by the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) tribunal last Friday .
But pundits say that, while the points penalty may be softened, it is highly unlikely the club will be reinstated into Serie A .
Fiorentina and Lazio were also relegated by the tribunal, with 12- and seven-point penalties respectively .
Milan was found guilty too, but it got off lighter - the team owned by former premier Silvio Berlusconi will play in Serie A, but it will start next season at -15 points .
