Former Juventus star Gigi Buffon hopes the Bianconeri sign his ex-teammate Angel Di Maria: ‘He’d be like Diego Maradona for Serie A.’
The legendary goalkeeper spent one year at PSG with Di Maria and he is convinced that the Argentina international will make the difference in Italy.
“Right now, Di Maria in Serie A, is like Maradona. Am I clear?” Buffon told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Di Maria is available as a free agent after the end of his contract with PSG. Juventus have made their move, offering a one-year deal with an option for a further campaign. However, the Argentinean star seems determined to remain in Europe just for one season, play at the World Cup, and return to Argentina at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
Therefore, talks with the Bianconeri have been put on hold, but Juventus are confident that El Fideo will make a final decision this week.
“Footballers must be valued considering the context where they play. Today Serie A is technically poorer and Angel has so much technique,” said Buffon.
“He is decisive in front of goal, he dribbles past his opponents so easily. He is good at delivering assists and runs up and down on the pitch. He can play in different roles. In a few words: he is a football player.”
Di Maria turned 34 in February, but Buffon doesn’t seem his age as a problem for either he or Juventus.
“I am 44, but I still play. Age doesn’t matter. Motivation and passion are much more important and the same goes for determination. If Di Maria joins Juventus, it means that he’s ready to do so,” he said.
“We are talking of an exemplary professional, a nice guy, one who never gives up and fights during games and training sessions. I repeat, for today’s Serie A, he’d be like Maradona.
“At PSG, I played with Neymar, a young Kylian Mbappé, Marco Verratti…but Di Maria was not inferior to any of them,” Buffon continued.
“When he won the Decina at Madrid in 2014, he was playing with Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luk Modric and Toni Kroos. He was always a step back but knew how to play as a winger, attacking midfielder and even Mezzala. Whoever signs him, and I hope it’s Juve, makes a deal. We are talking about a champion and football needs champions.”