Gianluigi Buffon desperate to end career with Champions League glory after reflecting on Juventus return and relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo
- Gianluigi Buffon says Champions League success would complete his career
- The trophy is the only major piece of silverware that has eluded him
- Buffon returned to Juventus this summer, 12 months after leaving for PSG
- The 41-year-old also praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact since joining the club
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has revealed he’s desperate to end his playing career by winning the Champions League.
The 41-year-old has enjoyed a trophy-laden career, but Europe’s elite competition is the only major piece of silverware that has eluded him.
Buffon left Juve for Paris Saint-Germain last summer for one last tilt at Champions League glory before returning to Turin in July.
Gianluigi Buffon says he’s desperate to end his career by winning the Champions League
The Champions League is the only major trophy to have eluded Buffon in his career
Buffon returned to Juve this summer, 12 months after leaving the club for Paris Saint-Germain
Buffon has now revealed the reasons behind his return and his burning ambition to round off his career with a fairytale ending.
‘I come from a sporting family, so I learned early on the importance of constant improvement, perennial lack of satisfaction,’ he said at Festival dello Sport.
I don’t feel that I’ve given all I can, not the full 100 per cent. Maybe I am missing that 15 per cent I need for the grand finale of this career.’
Buffon moved to PSG for what he thought was one last tilt at Champions League success
Buffon has also hailed Cristiano Ronaldo’s positive impact on the Juventus dressing room
Buffon, who has made two appearances for Juve this season since his return, also revealed his pleasure at sharing a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘After that overhead kick he scored against us for Real Madrid, I asked him how old he was. He smiled and said: ‘I’m 33. Not bad, right?’
‘I thought: ‘Look at this son of a…’ If you can’t beat’em, you join’em! I must say, Cristiano is really a nice guy to be around, we spend a long time discussing and preparing things, he interacts with his teammates. He has been a pleasant surprise.
‘If he were to win the Ballon d’Or, and I hope he does, it’ll mean Juve will too have won something important. I know that I never got one, but it’s very tough for goalkeepers, the only shot-stopper who ever got the Ballon d’Or was the legendary Lev Yashin.’