Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes he can continue playing at the top level for another three years and eyes 2018 World Cup.
The 37-year-old continues to hold the number one spot for club and country and has no interest in settling for a reserve spot as his age increases.
“If I continue at this level physically and mentally, I can guarantee another two or three years at the top level,” Buffon told L’Equipe.
Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes he can continue playing at the top level for another three years and eyes 2018 World Cup.
The 37-year-old continues to hold the number one spot for club and country and has no interest in settling for a reserve spot as his age increases.
“If I continue at this level physically and mentally, I can guarantee another two or three years at the top level,” Buffon told L’Equipe.
“I’m not a number two, I want to be a 40-year-old who is still number one. I want to experience my remaining years in the best way possible and demonstrate that even at 37 or 38 years old I am an important goalkeeper.
“If I told you I wasn’t thinking about the World Cup in Russia I would be lying, I’m used to setting myself big targets, even if with three years to go and at my age it’s asking a lot.”
Buffon reflected on his illustrious career and picked out beating France in the 2006 World Cup Final as the fondest memory.
“Winning the World Cup was something I’d dreamed of since I was a child,” he said.
“People still talk about my save against Zidane today – In the final everything is amplified and even a simple action can become legend.
“I’m honoured to be a part of the national team, I began in 1997 and after almost 20 years it makes me proud to still be a part of it and I still have the desire to continue.”
Despite an extensive honours list and an incredible 586 Serie A appearances, the 37-year-old still holds one regret.
“My one regret is to never have played in the Premier League, I would’ve liked to play in those stadiums and in that atmosphere where there seems to be great sportsmanship.
“I never left Italy because I always thought that the Italian championship was the most challenging and the greatest of all the leagues.
“Today we are in decline but everything goes in cycles. Yesterday it was Spain, today it’s England and maybe tomorrow it will be France.
“I had 10 years at Parma and have had 15 at Juventus – when you are happy in a team it doesn’t make sense to leave.”