Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that his chances of staying at Juventus have risen to 75 per cent. “I am starting to change my mind,” he revealed.
The goalkeeper looked set to quit the Italian giants after helping them back to Serie A, but he’s now claimed that he’s more likely to stay rather than go.
“Things have changed recently,” said Buffon, a reported target for Milan and Real Madrid. “If my chances of remaining were 49 per cent up to 20 days ago, now they are 75 per cent…
“I dream of getting back to winning ways in the future alongside players such as Alessandro Del Piero, Pavel Nedved and David Trezeguet,” added the World Cup winner.
“If I am closer to Juventus it is because I respect this environment and they are the club which represents me the most.
“I’ve had plenty of offers in the past and I could have left if I wanted to.
“I have always fought for the top positions and I was afraid that it would be hard to face a season where we were not protagonists. The club, however, have sent me some important signals.”
Should Buffon commit to Juventus, he would be without Champions League football again. However, he admits watching Milan in the Final on TV is a massive motivating factor.
“I was not envious, but I felt great respect for Milan,” he noted. “They made me understand how important the group is, unity can allow you to achieve important results even when you are not a favourite.
“Their triumph was basically a moral one and I would like to do something similar. If you win but you don’t feel part of a group then you do not feel true happiness in your heart.”
The No 1 was also inevitably questioned about Juve’s coaching situation given that Marcello Lippi seems unwilling to start for another six months.
“I don’t want to be Lippi’s sponsor, but I think he would be the best solution for Juve,” he added. “However, he wants to wait until the situation with his son Davide is resolved.”
Davide Lippi has been caught up in the GEA player agency scandal which was placed under investigation last year.
“I think we must respect his decision, I don’t think he will change his mind,” concluded the Juventino.
Football Italia