Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will depart Juventus following the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2021/22 season.
The stalwart goalkeeper joined the Bianconeri from Parma in a staggering €52m deal back in 2001, establishing himself as one of the game’s greatest shot-stoppers during his near-two decade stint in Turin.
The Azzurri icon racked up a plethora of honours and broke seemingly every record imaginable amid his rise to Calcio supremacy, securing 21 major trophies as he notched over 680 appearances in Bianconeri colours – bested by only Alessandro Del Piero’s 705.
However, Buffon’s legendary stay at Juventus is drawing to a close.
“My future is clear and defined. This beautiful and very long experience with Juve will come to a definitive end this year,” said the Bianconeri hero (via The Athletic).
“Either I stop playing, or if I find a situation that motivates me to play or have a different life experience, I will take it into consideration.
“I feel I gave everything for Juve. I have received everything and more than this cannot be done.
“We have reached the end of a cycle and it’s right for one to remove the disturbance,” he concluded.
Thus, the 43-year-old is not necessarily drawing the curtains on his playing career just yet.
He has departed Juve once before, exiting for Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, but swiftly returned to Turin following just a season in the French capital. Buffon signed back-to-back one-year deals to remain at Juve, potentially in a bid to finally claim the Champions League crown that has forever eluded him.
Such a triumph has continued to escape the World Cup winner, however.
Nevertheless, further domestic success may be around the corner in the form of the Coppa Italia final later this month. Juventus take on Atalanta in what could prove Buffon’s final match for the club.
His minutes have come few and far between following his return from PSG, as Wojciech Szczesny established himself as the Italian’s successor between the sticks. Buffon’s played 27 times across all competitions over the past two seasons, registering ten clean sheets and proving himself to be more than competent despite his age.
It’ll be interesting to see the intrigue that Buffon provokes this summer. Although, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll earn a spot as a starter at one of Europe’s elite despite his enormous prestige. A backup role would be ideal, with his influence in the dressing room profound.
A fairytale return to Parma would be special, even if the Gialloblu are plying their trade in Serie B next season.
Nevertheless, from Juventini across the globe: Grazie, Gianluigi.