- Gianluigi Buffon has indicated that he will retire at the end of the season
- Tottenham fought back from two goals down against Juventus on Tuesday night
- Mario Basler believes Buffon will cost Juve in their Champions League quest
Gianlugi Buffon should have hung up his goalkeeping gloves already, according to former Germany international Mario Basler.
The 40-year-old has indicated that the 2017-18 season will be his last in professional football, but is yet to confirm any retirement plans ahead of the final few months of the campaign.
The Juventus goalkeeper was caught flat-footed on Tuesday night as Tottenham fought back from two goals down to level their Champions League semi-final first-leg in Turin.
Gianluigi Buffon looks to the heavens during Juventus’ 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Tuesday
And Basler believes it was further proof of the goalkeeper’s diminishing powers, which will cost Juve a shot at European glory this year.
‘Gigi was an exceptional goalkeeper, but sometimes we miss the right time to retire,’ the former Bayern Munich winger told Sport1.
‘He’s missed the moment to retire. The club and the coach [Massimiliano Allegri] have to tell him that the time to stop has arrived.
‘Maybe he really wants to win the Champions League, but he’s no longer an international level goalkeeper and Juventus won’t be able to win the trophy with him.’
Harry Kane takes the ball round goalkeeper Buffon to notch Spurs’ opening goal
Buffon was then caught by surprise as Christian Eriksen equalised to secure a draw
Buffon was beaten by Harry Kane for Spurs’ first goal just minutes after making a fine close-range stop from the England striker.
He was then caught by surprise by Christian Eriksen’s low free-kick which leveled the tie at the Juventus Stadium.
Buffon has previously suggested he may be willing to play on for one more season if Juve win the Champions League so that he can have a shot at claiming the Club World Cup.
Earlier Buffon had done well to save a header from point-blank range by Kane