I'm no Buffon fangirl, but this certainly made me smile
FOOTBALLITALIA
Buffon fears Totti tricks Saturday 20 September, 2003
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Gianluigi Buffon has nightmares about Francesco Totti placing a spectacular set-piece past him this Sunday and reveals he nearly joined Roma.
“For the last ten days I have this fear that Roma will be awarded a penalty and Totti will scoop it over my head,” confessed the Juventus goalkeeper.
The two Italy teammates are good friends and interviewed each other for radio station ‘Rete Sport’.
“Don’t worry,” insisted Totti, “you are the only goalkeeper I would never do that to.”
Buffon has already been foxed by such a cheeky finish at the hands of Milan’s Andrea Pirlo in the Italian Supercup Final this summer.
Totti is also an old hand at this unusual penalty technique, having scored an identical goal in the Euro 2000 semi-final against Holland.
The friendly banter on the radio was in stark contrast to previous seasons, when the Juventus-Roma showdown was surrounded by controversy and ill-feeling.
“Perhaps that is because the tie is so early into the season,” mused Buffon, “and so many sides are up there on maximum points. I am glad the usual circus that ruins football is quiet this time around.”
The shot-stopper, voted the Best Player in the Champions’ League last season, has his work cut out for him with the Roma trident attack coming to Turin.
“If Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Antonio Cassano are on form then it’s hard to keep them under control. This side can really hurt you.”
“Mind you,” he added jokingly, “I think Totti would be very happy at Juve. If he wants a room up here then I can rent one to him.”
The duo are teammates in the Italy squad, but Buffon reveals they were almost roommates in Rome.
“A couple of years ago I was very close to signing for Roma,” he admitted. “It fell through as the club wasn’t particularly convinced and as a result I started having my own doubts.”
The former Parma ‘keeper eventually chose Juventus in a record-breaking £33m move.
“Juventus didn’t hesitate for a moment. When you are choosing a new side you want them to be enthusiastic about your arrival and that changed my mind.”
PHEW! That's the best damn career choice I've ever seen...