“That’s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together,” he posted in English on social media.

Buffon hangs up his gloves after two more years at Parma, the club where it all started almost 30 years ago, when Italian football was the best in Europe.

He was signed to Parma until next summer, but he won’t be helping the Serie B club try to get back to the top flight after two years.

Buffon is a reminder of a golden age of football when the best players went to play in Serie A and Italy made a lot of world-class players.

The former captain of Italy has a record 176 caps for his country. He also holds the record for most games played in Serie A, with 657 games since 1995.

When he was 17, Buffon made his debut for Parma against AC Milan and stopped George Weah and Roberto Baggio. He went on to win 27 major trophies.

Most of them came from his 19 years at Juventus, where he won 10 Serie A titles and 5 Italian Cups. In 1999, he won the UEFA Cup with Parma, which may have been the best team in the club’s history.

He also won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 before going back to Juve, but the 2006 World Cup victory will be what people remember him for most.

Buffon was one of the best players on the Azzurri team, which had been hurt by the “Calciopoli” match-fixing scandal, which cost him two league titles as Juve’s custodian. The Azzurri beat France on penalties after beating Germany in the semi-finals.

That was the last hurrah for a generation that had made Italy one of the best football nations in the world. As Italy’s fortunes slowly went downhill, he had to go out in the group stage twice in a row and then quit not long after Italy didn’t make it to the 2018 tournament.

In his last season with Juventus, two years ago, Buffon won the Italian Cup with Federico Chiesa. This was 22 years after he won the same trophy with Parma with Chiesa’s father, Enrico.

But Buffon’s career has also been full of scandals, including rumours that he is, or at least used to be, a far-right supporter.

For the 2000-2001 season, he put the number 88 on his jersey, which is a neo-Nazi code for “Heil Hitler.” This led to a lot of criticism.

Two years ago, he wore a t-shirt under his uniform with the neo-fascist slogan “Boia chi molla,” which roughly means “Death before surrender.” This was for a game against Lazio, whose fans are some of the most far-right in Europe.

He publicly apologised for the shirt and said he didn’t know where the phrase came from. However, in his book “Number One” from 2010, he said he was still shocked at how he was “crucified.”

Buffon also said that he chose the number 88 because he wasn’t allowed to have the number 00, which he wanted to stand for “balls” as a symbol of his return from an injury. He said that the number 88 was just four balls.

He changed his number to 77, but in his book he was angry about the criticism he got from the Jewish community in Rome. He said that his only mistake was “being weak.”

“I shouldn’t have apologised and I should have pushed to keep the number I had already chosen,” he said.

Soon after he won the World Cup, he was found not guilty of illegally betting on Serie A games. These accusations came up at the height of the “Calciopoli” scandal.

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Note: This covers the last 20 years – before the mid-90s, only European players were eligible for the award. That explains Pele and Diego Maradona missing out on the original honours – but it doesn’t cover the absence of this lot …

12. Sergio Ramos

Take whatever feelings you might have about Spain’s cuddly captain out of the equation and you’re left with a player who’s simply a medal magnet. At age 34, he’s had a hand (plus the odd knee) in winning every major honour for club and country and now he’s at PSG.

The argument is that defenders don’t often win this type of award. What makes Ramos unique is not only his eye-catching technical ability, but his nose for game-changing goals. In his first two Champions League finals he scored vital goals to help Real lift the trophy – yet he’s never even had a top-three Ballon d’Or finish. He must have annoyed some people along the way or something.

11. Ryan Giggs

Football’s most decorated player, possibly ever. Certainly in Manchester United’s history, anyway. More than that, the old blood-twister was exactly the style of footballer who does well with these sort of gongs: a jinking left winger with an eye for goal and/or humiliating an opposition full back.

Yet, it’s perhaps easy to understand why Giggs has never had a Ballon d’Or look-in. His longevity, from teenage tyro to yoga-stretched veteran, is what’s remarkable about the Welshman, rather than one standout season. Still, a token third place doesn’t seem out of the realms of possibility. In 1999’s treble-winning season, say, or his second Champions League-winning season of 2007-08, or any of the 13 damn times he won the Premier League.

10. Neymar

Not a universally popular player, we’re given to understand. But few would deny his talent. Even playing third fiddle to Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi at Barcelona, he looked a world beater at times. In particular, as he showcased his will and skill to lead Barça to that astonishing 6-1 win over PSG in 2017.

Neymar also has 60 goals for Brazil – two behind Ronaldo, 17 behind all-time leader Pele – and he’s 26 years old. If he stays fit, he’ll gazump both. And if he can just spend more time thrilling us with his rainbow flicks rather than enraging us with his turf rolling, Neymar may well go on to claim the award that reportedly fuelled his move to Paris in the first place.

9. Philipp Lahm

Defenders don’t win this award often, but Lahm is a special case. For a while, the 5ft 7in ‘Magic Dwarf’ might have been the best right back, the best left back and the best central midfielder that both Germany and Bayern Munich possessed.

Boasting stamina, technique and an astute football brain, Lahm was more than just a versatile footballer. He was, in retrospect, the standout player of a German generation that he captained to World Cup glory in 2014. That came just a year after he’d skippered Bayern to a treble. If Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro can win the Ballon d’Or for his performances in 2006, the least Lahm deserved was a podium spot eight years later.

8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Not the greatest player ever – although we won’t say that within the big man’s earshot – but arguably the greatest-ever scorer of spectacular goals. Certainly, nobody scores goals quite like Zlatan; his vision and invention paired with the unique, kung-fu dexterity of his 6ft 5in frame.

Few have proven themselves greater travellers either: Sweden’s record goalscorer has won major honours in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France and England. The knock against him is his Champions League CV, which features 48 goals, but never an appearance in the final. Odd, as his record over in major club games shows he’s no flat-track bully, yet it explains the Ballon d’Or absence despite his jaw-dropping talent.

7. Thierry Henry

With respect to Michael Owen, a Ballon d’Or winner after an excellent 2001, his victory has become a byword for the curious anomalies that awards can throw up. As in: Owen won this prize, Thierry Henry never did – yet anybody who watched the Premier League during the late 90s and early noughties can tell you who the superior striker was.

Boasting searing pace, skill and an eye for goal, a peak Henry made the impossible commonplace. Ending his career as France and Arsenal’s all-time top-scorer, Henry also won everything from a World Cup to a Premier League/FA Cup double, to a treble with Barcelona.

Perhaps a lack of match-clinching final goals to really rubberstamp a triumphant year held Henry back. The highest he ever finished was second to Pavel Nedved in 2003.

6. Arjen Robben

A casualty of Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance as, outside that duo, Robben might just be the best gamechanging individual talent of his era. Unbelievably quick despite numerous injuries, the now 34-year-old Dutchman has slalomed past opposition defences at will for PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

The knock on Robben at one point, after lost Champions League and World Cup finals, was that he couldn’t quite land the big one. Then he scored the goal that won Bayern the Champions League in 2013 and was – in many eyes – the best individual performer of the World Cup a year later.

In that 2013 treble year, Bayern threw their political weight behind Franck Ribery for the Ballon d’Or. He finished third, but Robben is the superior player – despite never finishing above fourth in the Ballon standings.

5. Luis Suarez

In an era of brilliant false nines and between-the-lines attackers, Suarez is the best pure striker of his generation. No biting pun intended, but it’s his hunger as much as his flair or finishing ability that gives the Uruguayan his edge.

This relentless menace almost dragged Liverpool to a league title in 2013-14, then left for Barcelona and did what no other forward had done before. Namely, Suarez earned the respect of Messi, who’d previously burned through strike partners. After all, it was reportedly Messi himself who suggested switching Barça’s play so that his Uruguayan teammate was the spearhead while he himself dropped deeper.

Goals and trophies have flowed for Suarez at Barcelona, but being in the same team as Messi has inevitably stifled his chances when it comes to individual awards.

4. Gianluigi Buffon

Lev Yashin in 1963 is the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or, and if Buffon can’t join him, it’s tempting to wonder which keeper ever will. Longevity, consistency, brilliance: Italy’s 6ft 4in ‘Superman’ ticks every box for greatness and boasts more records than an avid vinyl collector.

The Champions League infamously remains missing from his CV and you get the feeling that, should he win it, the fortysomething Buffon may just be given this gong as a lifetime achievement award. As it is, the closest he’s come was in 2006 when he conceded only two goals in seven games as Italy won the World Cup – but was pipped into second place in the Ballon d’Or standings by teammate Cannavaro.

3. Xavi

The heartbeat of one of the greatest club sides in history and one of the greatest national sides of all time. Yet, in the Ballon d’Or standings, Xavi had to settle for a hat-trick of third places from 2009 to 2011; hardly appropriate for a player who’s made a career habit out of finishing first.

The genius of Messi and Ronaldo accounts for Xavi missing top spot, but it’s slightly galling that the unassuming brilliance of Barcelona’s pass master wasn’t given the highest individual recognition. After all, tiki-taka will go down as the dominant style of play of the early 2000s – and yet it’s its greatest practitioner who has never won Europe’s top individual prize.

2. Paolo Maldini

Let’s all pack up and go home, shall we? If Maldini, a man who played left back as well as any player has ever played a position, can’t win this award, full backs have no chance.

Unlike others on this list, Maldini wasn’t overshadowed by a modern duopoly and didn’t have his Champions League record count against him (how could it? He won five of them). So, it’s a mystery as to why the stylish Milan defender – who perfected the art of slide tackling with either foot, without knocking a hair out of place – never won this award.

We’d have given it to Maldini back in 1994 when he was probably the best player at the World Cup and imperious as Italy held Brazil to 0-0 for two hours in the final. Yet, Maldini was placed third that year. Note: much of this (except the hair bit) applies to his central defensive teammate Franco Baresi, another Ballon d’Or absentee but one who just misses our 20-year cut-off.

1. Andres Iniesta

You can understand why Maldini, Buffon or even Iniesta’s long-term teammate Xaxi have missed out. Full backs, goalkeepers and midfield schemers don’t scoop awards quite like more individual talents.

Yet, Iniesta was both metronome and magician depending on what you needed. He was a generous, versatile team player who could also produce moments of astonishing skill.

For club: that sublime late strike against Chelsea in 2009, the most important goal of Barcelona’s 2009 treble-winning season. For country: the only goal in a World Cup final should probably do it, Iniesta pulling off his Spain shirt in extra time, not to reveal his abs or point to his own name, but to share a poignant tribute to his friend Dani Jarque.

Iniesta finished second in the Ballon d’Or standings that year and, while it’ll hardly be missed in a sock drawer full of medals of every type, he really should have a big golden football to shove in there somewhere, too.

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The 41-year-old spent 17 years with the Serie A champions before joining Paris St Germain last summer.

World Cup winner Buffon, who was capped 176 times by his country, announced last month that he would leave PSG after a single season in France.

He was in Turin on Thursday morning for a medical assessment and was shown being tested on a treadmill in a video posted on Juve’s Twitter page.

Medical visit for @gianluigibuffon 💪👍

📸 ➡️https://t.co/uzlHGMKnwg pic.twitter.com/zI1BTAQ8sN

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 4, 2019

‘The medical examinations of Gianluigi Buffon have just started,” read a statement on the club website.

‘The goalkeeper arrived this morning at J | Medical, where he was greeted by a hundred enthusiastic fans, and he immediately started medical tests.’

In addition to lifting the 2006 World Cup with Italy, Buffon won nine Serie A titles and four Italian cups after joining Juventus from Parma in 2001.

👍 @gianluigibuffon 👍 pic.twitter.com/brRiNnEdnZ

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 4, 2019

Should the move be completed, he will be managed by former Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri and play alongside ex-Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Buffon, who lifted the Ligue 1 title during his short stay in Paris, would become the club’s third free transfer of the summer following the arrivals of Wales international Ramsey and former PSG team-mate Adrien Rabiot.

The post Buffon undergoing medical ahead of potential Juventus return appeared first on SportsClub.

After 17 seasons with Juventus, the 41-year-old goalkeeper joined PSG on a free transfer last summer, making 25 appearances in all competitions and helping the club to retain the domestic title.

On their website, PSG hailed Buffon as ‘the greatest goalkeeper in the history of football’.

Buffon said: ‘Thank you all for everything I have had the opportunity to experience in Paris.

‘Thank you for the emotions that we have shared together. Twelve months ago I arrived at Paris St Germain filled with enthusiasm, welcomed by the incredible warmth of the fans. It was really moving.

Grazie Grande Gigi 🙏❤️💙@PSG_English thanks @gianluigibuffon for honouring the Rouge & Bleu shirt 👇https://t.co/3qxGhKZZgj pic.twitter.com/fevmJ8mc9a

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 5, 2019

‘Thank you, once again, from the bottom of my heart. I leave happy to have enjoyed this experience which has undoubtedly helped me to grow.

‘Today my adventure outside Italy comes to an end. I would like to thank the chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the whole club and my teammates. I wish you all the best, convinced that together you will write the pages of a wonderful story.

‘Ernest Hemingway wrote that there are only two places in the world where people can live happily: at home and in Paris.

‘Today onwards, this will also apply to me: Paris, in some way, will always remain my home. Allez Paris! Thank you and good luck with everything!’

Praising Buffon’s contribution, Al-Khelaifi said: ‘I will never forget the pride that everyone at Paris St Germain, both the club and the fans, felt when they saw Gianluigi Buffon wearing our jersey.

‘For the first time in his fabulous career, Gianluigi had made the brave choice to leave Italy, struck by our ambitious and modern project.

‘During his time at PSG he brought his phenomenal experience and his sense of professionalism, not only to his teammates, but also to all areas of the club.

‘We will miss his warm and open personality here at the club. Gigi will forever remain among the football giants who have worn the Paris St Germain colours and shared the values of the club.’

Al-Khelaifi has confirmed Buffon will be welcomed back next year, along with other players, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club.

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PSG outclassed United 2-0 in the opening leg of their last-16 showdown at Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday.

After a scoreless first half, Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe scored within seven minutes to put PSG in the box seat in pursuit of the quarter-finals.

It was United’s first defeat under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and their heaviest home loss in Europe.

‘We made it seem easy by putting everything we had into those 90 minutes, the unity that is fundamental in this competition,’ Buffon told Sky Sport Italia.

‘We took some risks, but they allowed us to breathe when under pressure and break their attempt at pressing.

‘In such a balanced tie, that is worth so much.’

Buffon was named in PSG’s starting XI and the 41-year-old became only the third keeper after Edwin van der Sar and Iker Casillas to reach 50 Champions League clean sheets.

The Italian veteran arrived from Juventus in the off-season, with the option of an extra year in the French capital.

‘The contract is not a thought in my mind, to be honest,’ Buffon said. ‘I just want to keep enjoying my football, being useful to the club and my teammates, whether on the field or off.

‘It has never been a problem for me to deal with a contract when I was 30 years old, let alone 41.’

France defender Kimpembe opened the scoring for PSG with a volley from Angel Di Maria’s corner before Mbappe completed a swift counter-attacking move to put the Ligue 1 champions in a strong position ahead of the 6 March return fixture.

‘I have no words. To tell the truth, I don’t realise it yet,’ Kimpembe said after scoring in front of the travelling PSG fans. ‘I’m like in a dream and I’m going to be able to enjoy it tonight and enjoy it.’

The post Buffon: PSG made it look easy against Man United appeared first on SportsClub.

Mbappe, 19, helped PSG win a treble last season before playing a key role for France as they claimed the World Cup in Russia.

The attacker has also made a fast start to this campaign, scoring 10 goals in just seven games in all competitions.

Buffon, who arrived at PSG in July, said Mbappe had unique talents despite comparisons to the likes of Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti in his homeland.

‘Given his qualities, what he shows on the field, and how decisive he was during the World Cup, he deserves it, yes. I cannot say the opposite,’ the veteran goalkeeper told France 3.

#L1Wk9 #Statattack: In case you hadn’t heard, @KMbappe is the world’s fastest rising superstar, his four goals in 13 minutes in @PSG_English‘s 5-0 hammering of @OL_English setting yet another slew of records: https://t.co/pSzePMnyjT pic.twitter.com/Jj7UZuEOuJ

— Ligue1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 9, 2018

“If I have already seen players with such talent? In Italy, he is compared to Baggio, Del Piero and Totti. But he has an exceptional talent and technical qualities as I have rarely seen.

“He’s a phenomenon. And if he persists in wanting to be the best, if he remains enthusiastic and keeps his normal behaviour, he can last a very long time.”

Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG host Amiens on Saturday.

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Buffon swapped Serie A champions Juventus for Ligue 1 holders PSG at the age of 40 in the off-season.

ALSO READ: Mane eyes Champions League final return

The legendary keeper helped Juve to seven successive league titles and nine in total during his time in Turin, where he also claimed 10 other trophies.

Despite his advancing years, Buffon feels he has improved and surpassed his past performances.

In an interview with France Football, Buffon said: ‘If you asked me “At age 35, do you feel differently than today?” I would say, “I think I am better”.

‘Then you would say, “Impossible”. Me too. Sometimes, when I come home, that’s what I say to myself: “It’s not possible”. And yet, deep within me, I feel better than five, six or seven years ago. I cannot say why. Maybe because I changed my approach.

READ: Mourinho: I’ve got more titles than the other 19 coaches combined 

‘At my age, everything is a matter of envy and motivation.’

After a day off, it was back to business on Tuesday for PSG ⚽💪

🔴🔵 #AllezParis pic.twitter.com/9UCsDpHXYe

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 28, 2018

Buffon has settled in seamlessly under PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel in Paris, making his Ligue 1 debut against Caen and starting in the win over Guingamp.

However, Buffon relinquished the gloves to Alphonse Areola for Saturday’s 3-1 victory against Angers and the shot-stopper will also sit out this week’s trip to Nimes.

‘With Alphonse and Kevin [Trapp], we have a very good relationship and for me, even before being partners, they are like brothers,’ Buffon said.

READ: Gundogan: ‘Mature’ City can win UCL

‘Their attitude in the daily work is exemplary and in a team, it is important to have a lot of respect and esteem for each other. This is already a good starting point.

‘Football has changed a lot. A team like Paris Saint-Germain play about 60 matches and I hope that they will play some more than last season. It seems unthinkable to me to have only one holder at the post and therefore logical to have three keepers.’

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Madrid won their third consecutive European title with thanks to a 3-1 win over Liverpool in Kiev, Gareth Bale netting a brace.

Bale did not make the cut of players voted for by coaches of the 32 teams from the 2017-18 Champions League group stage and 55 journalists representing each of UEFA’s member nations, with Ronaldo, Messi and Salah the attackers put forward.

Keylor Navas may have his position at Madrid under serious threat following the signing of Thibaut Courtois but is nominated in the goalkeeping category alongside Alisson and Gianluigi Buffon.

Madrid have a clean sweep among the defenders in the shape of Marcelo, Raphael Varane and captain Sergio Ramos, while only Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne – accompanying Luka Modric and Toni Kroos – prevents a similar scenario for the midfielders.

NOMINEES: 2017/18 #UCL Midfielder of the Season

⭐️ @lukamodric10
⭐️ @DeBruyneKev
⭐️ @ToniKroos

🗓️ #UEFAawards winners announced at the #UCLdraw, 30 August 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MfLlDpD215

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 9, 2018

The three nominees for the Europa League Player of the Season award are drawn from the final and continue the Spanish theme.

Atletico Madrid duo Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin have been named alongside Marseille’s Dimitri Payet.

Godin lifted the trophy after Griezmann scored twice in a 3-0 win over the Ligue 1 side in Lyon.

The winners will be announced at the respective Champions League and Europa League group stage draws in Monaco on August 30 and 31.

UEFA Champions League positional awards nominations in full:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma, now Liverpool), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, now Paris Saint-Germain), Keylor Navas (Real Madrid).

Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Real Madrid).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, now Juventus), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).

The post Messi, Ronaldo and Salah up for UCL awards appeared first on SportsClub.

The forward described losing to Belgium in the quarter-finals of Russia 2018 as the ‘the saddest moment’ of his career, having scored twice in five games at the tournament and drawn criticism for his play-acting.

Neymar missed the end of the 2017-18 season with a fractured foot as PSG won a domestic treble in his first season in the French capital after joining from Barcelona in a world-record €222-million deal.

READ: Martinez: De Bruyne deserves more recognition

Real Madrid have denied making an offer for Neymar as reports continue to link the 26-year-old with a return to La Liga after a single season in Ligue 1.

And Buffon thinks failing to win the World Cup could act as extra motivation for Neymar in the coming campaign.

READ: Modric would deserve Golden Ball – Mandzukic

‘I think that it happens to everyone to get difficult moments,’ Buffon said at his presentation to the media on Monday.

‘But there are moments that make us stronger… Neymar can come back to Paris with the envy to win everything. It’s a good thing for him and the club.’

Buffon confirmed he sought counsel from former Juventus teammate Blaise Matuidi before opting to join the France international at PSG, where he will play under new coach Thomas Tuchel.

‘I played only a year with him but I have affection for him,’ said the veteran goalkeeper. ‘He told me, “In my opinion, Paris need a person like you, you’ll feel good there”. That’s why I listened to his advice.

READ MORE: Lukaku, Hazard, De Bruyne in Team of the Quarter-Finals

‘PSG are the team that I followed the most in recent years because I was curious. I was surprised to see that they couldn’t reach their objective. But the team needs time, we always need time to improve.

‘Paris have great ambitions and there is a constant progression. I think that the team has the character of the coach.’

The post Buffon: Neymar’s WC disappointment could make him stronger appeared first on SportsClub.

READ: Juventus respond to Ronaldo transfer rumours

The veteran goalkeeper completed his free transfer to the Ligue 1 champions on Friday after weeks of speculation, marking the first time he will compete outside of his home country domestically at the age of 40.

Buffon penned a one-year deal with the option of a second after ending his 17-year stay at Juventus at the end of last season, bringing an end to a legendary tenure in Turin in which he won nine Serie A titles and four Coppas Italia.

It was initially expected that Buffon, who fell agonisingly short in his hunt of a Champions League crown, would retire upon leaving Juve, but the lure of one last challenge in France with big-spending PSG proved too hard to turn down.

ALSO READ: Courtois defiant after Belgium heroics

‘It is with a great feeling of happiness that I join Paris Saint-Germain,’ he told the club’s official website.

‘For the first time in my career, I am leaving my country and only a project this ambitious could have encouraged me to make such a decision.

‘I want to thank the club and the president for their confidence. To have followed the club’s incredible progression in recent years, I know what dreams Paris Saint-Germain and its fans have in their hearts.

‘I am going to bring all my energy, all my experience and all of my thirst to win to help my new club achieve all the great objectives it has set out for the future.

‘With my team-mates and our supporters, we will share fantastic emotions at the Parc des Princes and in all of the stadiums in which we are going to represent Paris, a marvellous city that deserves to one day see its club at the top of international football.’

ALSO READ: Neymar fails to deliver as Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ upstage Brazil

President Nasser Al- Khelaifi added that signing Buffon was a signal of the club’s continued ambition to finally conquer Europe.

‘We all feel an immense pride in welcoming Gianluigi Buffon into the great Paris Saint-Germain family,’ he said.

‘The immensity of his career, as well as his ambitious personality, unifying and elegant, make him one of the most admired and respected players in world football.

‘At 40 years old, his passion for football is intact and Gianluigi has found the ideal environment in our project to set himself extremely high objectives transmitting his experience, not only to the other goalkeepers at the club, but to all of our players.

‘Our supporters will know how to welcome Buffon with the enthusiasm and love that he deserves.

‘His arrival reaffirms our will to always go higher, an ambition that we intend to pursue with a determination just as strong.’

ALSO READ: Belgium edge Brazil to reach semi-finals

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