Gianluigi Buffon (147 Viewers)
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Gianluigi Buffon Confirms He Will Be Staying At Juventus
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will be returning to the Bianconeri line-up, dismissing the rumours linking him with a move away from the side.
Buffon would like to return prior to Christmas, but knows he still needs time to train and improve.
"I am back in training and things are going very well," the shot-stopper told SkySport24. "We are ahead of schedule by a week or so, which is good.
"I think I will be back in January, but whether it is at the start or end, I am uncertain. It will depend on my condition, as it takes time.
"I will remain at Juve. I think the kind words by [sporting director Giuseppe] Marotta show how highly he regards me.
"I am also certain that we have the ability to play to win the Scudetto. It is an objective of the club, coach and the players want to reach," he concluded.
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will be returning to the Bianconeri line-up, dismissing the rumours linking him with a move away from the side.
Buffon would like to return prior to Christmas, but knows he still needs time to train and improve.
"I am back in training and things are going very well," the shot-stopper told SkySport24. "We are ahead of schedule by a week or so, which is good.
"I think I will be back in January, but whether it is at the start or end, I am uncertain. It will depend on my condition, as it takes time.
"I will remain at Juve. I think the kind words by [sporting director Giuseppe] Marotta show how highly he regards me.
"I am also certain that we have the ability to play to win the Scudetto. It is an objective of the club, coach and the players want to reach," he concluded.
Yeah, posted in the other thread. So, what? Are you mad?
More Than A Number One: Why Superman Must Stay
Last week Juventus welcomed the return of Gigi Buffon to training after recovering from the back surgery he required following his the injury sustained in South Africa this past summer. Recently he had begun to attend games & his lack of appearances at both the Stadio Olimpico & the training facility at Vinovo were defended by new director Pavel Nedved, who spoke of the difficulty of being forced to sit & watch from the sidelines when all you want to do is play.
In previous years Buffon was rushed back into first team action due to the performances of his understudy’s Alex Manninger & Antonio Chimenti who both cost the club in key games last season. This term however Marco Storari has been in excellent form & a vital ingredient in the resurgence of Juventus under Gigi Delneri. This has led to much speculation on the future of Buffon as he returns to fitness, with links to moves away becoming an almost daily occurance.
It is easy to see why he is coveted by almost every team in world football. Despite seemingly being around forever the Tuscan-born Genoa fan is still only 32 & is even today one of, if not the best goalkeepers on the planet. Nine years removed from his world record transfer from Parma he is outstanding in so many of the necessary attributes required from a player in his role.
His positional sense is flawless, he is a fantastic shot stopper who’s physical presence is seriously intimidating. He commands both his area & the defence ahead of him in a way unrivalled by any of his peers. Buffon’s distribution skills are very good, keeping it simple but effective & he radiates a calm authority throughout any team he plays in, a confidence born of faith in his ability to make crucial game winning stops time after time.
More than all these skills however is an intangible factor only felt by those who have followed Juventus closely throughout the last four years. As everyone knows the club was sent to Serie B almost immediately after Italy’s World Cup triumph in Germany. While Fabio Cannavaro & others fled to keep themselves at the top of the game, leaving never crossed Buffon’s mind;
Of course it is easy for fans of the Bianconeri to wax lyrical on 'San Gigi’, but there are also clear reasons why moves such as the one touted loudest - Manchester United - are almost non-starters from the other side as well. A surgically repaired, injury prone player in his thirties who earns almost €12 million per season before tax is a luxury ill-afforded given the Old Trafford club’s financial state.
While a player of his calibre & undoubted class will always be coveted by other clubs, Juventus would lose something that cannot be replaced by another player, even one in such fine form as Storari clearly is. Following a tradition begun by Gianpiero Combi & maintained through Dino Zoff, Stefano Tacconi & Angelo Peruzzi, Italy’s finest goalkeepers have worn the Juventus number one, Gianluigi Buffon is the living embodiment of that heritage. Long may it continue.
http://iltifosi.tumblr.com/
More Than A Number One: Why Superman Must Stay
Last week Juventus welcomed the return of Gigi Buffon to training after recovering from the back surgery he required following his the injury sustained in South Africa this past summer. Recently he had begun to attend games & his lack of appearances at both the Stadio Olimpico & the training facility at Vinovo were defended by new director Pavel Nedved, who spoke of the difficulty of being forced to sit & watch from the sidelines when all you want to do is play.
In previous years Buffon was rushed back into first team action due to the performances of his understudy’s Alex Manninger & Antonio Chimenti who both cost the club in key games last season. This term however Marco Storari has been in excellent form & a vital ingredient in the resurgence of Juventus under Gigi Delneri. This has led to much speculation on the future of Buffon as he returns to fitness, with links to moves away becoming an almost daily occurance.
It is easy to see why he is coveted by almost every team in world football. Despite seemingly being around forever the Tuscan-born Genoa fan is still only 32 & is even today one of, if not the best goalkeepers on the planet. Nine years removed from his world record transfer from Parma he is outstanding in so many of the necessary attributes required from a player in his role.
His positional sense is flawless, he is a fantastic shot stopper who’s physical presence is seriously intimidating. He commands both his area & the defence ahead of him in a way unrivalled by any of his peers. Buffon’s distribution skills are very good, keeping it simple but effective & he radiates a calm authority throughout any team he plays in, a confidence born of faith in his ability to make crucial game winning stops time after time.
More than all these skills however is an intangible factor only felt by those who have followed Juventus closely throughout the last four years. As everyone knows the club was sent to Serie B almost immediately after Italy’s World Cup triumph in Germany. While Fabio Cannavaro & others fled to keep themselves at the top of the game, leaving never crossed Buffon’s mind;
“Going down to B was challenge enough, I felt that I did the correct thing. Probably it wasn’t the normal thing to do but in the end it was a simple choice for me. If Juve had to go down to B then I had to go with them. I didn’t really need to think about it. Juve helped me become a world champion, therefore I owed them a huge debt. The men can go away, the executives can go away, but what is reality at this club are the players, who have been handed down the feeling of winning, of being the absolute best, which is unequalled at any other club.”
Bear in mind that when he made this 'simple choice’ he had just been crowned world champion at the age of 28, arguably the peak of his career & with the option to move to almost any club he chose. What his staying meant to the club & it’s fans is priceless, a factor that cannot easily be forgotten nor dismissed, a loyalty that the promise of a new challenge will not shake. If anything the new project & chance for success should be all the stimulus needed for a player with so much still to offer.
Of course it is easy for fans of the Bianconeri to wax lyrical on 'San Gigi’, but there are also clear reasons why moves such as the one touted loudest - Manchester United - are almost non-starters from the other side as well. A surgically repaired, injury prone player in his thirties who earns almost €12 million per season before tax is a luxury ill-afforded given the Old Trafford club’s financial state.
While a player of his calibre & undoubted class will always be coveted by other clubs, Juventus would lose something that cannot be replaced by another player, even one in such fine form as Storari clearly is. Following a tradition begun by Gianpiero Combi & maintained through Dino Zoff, Stefano Tacconi & Angelo Peruzzi, Italy’s finest goalkeepers have worn the Juventus number one, Gianluigi Buffon is the living embodiment of that heritage. Long may it continue.
http://iltifosi.tumblr.com/
Gigi Buffon is unimpressed with the players’ strike and confirms he has been getting to know new Juventus Coach Gigi Del Neri.
“If there is a strike, then it will damage all of football,” said the goalkeeper of the planned action on December 11 and 12.
“It is an extreme protest, but I hope the fans will understand. Players want their rights to be respected. I hope we continue negotiating, as reaching a solution would be better for everyone.”
Buffon will not be affected by the strike, as he is not expected to return to the playing field until January after back surgery in July.
“When the Coach sees that I am in good condition, then he will make his decision on the date of my comeback.
“It’s important that I have cut two to three weeks off the recovery process already. I’ve been out for five months and it will take a bit of time to get used to the goal again.”
The goalkeeper was criticised recently for not attending games in Turin or meeting with new Coach Del Neri.
“I have had the opportunity to get to know Del Neri better and he made a great impression on me. He is consistent in his approach and that’s a crucial quality to lead a team like ours.”
FI.
“If there is a strike, then it will damage all of football,” said the goalkeeper of the planned action on December 11 and 12.
“It is an extreme protest, but I hope the fans will understand. Players want their rights to be respected. I hope we continue negotiating, as reaching a solution would be better for everyone.”
Buffon will not be affected by the strike, as he is not expected to return to the playing field until January after back surgery in July.
“When the Coach sees that I am in good condition, then he will make his decision on the date of my comeback.
“It’s important that I have cut two to three weeks off the recovery process already. I’ve been out for five months and it will take a bit of time to get used to the goal again.”
The goalkeeper was criticised recently for not attending games in Turin or meeting with new Coach Del Neri.
“I have had the opportunity to get to know Del Neri better and he made a great impression on me. He is consistent in his approach and that’s a crucial quality to lead a team like ours.”
FI.
