Gianluigi Buffon confirms he intends to keep playing after winning the Coppa Italia with Juventus, but needs to find ‘someone even crazier than me who imagines something marvellous, because that’s what life is all about.’

This was probably his last appearance in the Bianconeri jersey and he certainly contributed with some early saves during the 2-1 win over Atalanta.

Gianluigi Buffon confirms he intends to keep playing after winning the Coppa Italia with Juventus, but needs to find ‘someone even crazier than me who imagines something marvellous, because that’s what life is all about.’

This was probably his last appearance in the Bianconeri jersey and he certainly contributed with some early saves during the 2-1 win over Atalanta.

He lifted the Coppa Italia trophy for a record-equalling sixth time in his career, the first being in 1999 for Parma when his teammate was Enrico Chiesa – father of tonight’s scorer Federico.

“Finishing like this makes me proud and so happy, as I got to share this victorious Final with my teammates and the fans, providing the icing on the cake,” Buffon told RAI Sport.

“The fans, the people of Juve, my teammates and the directors will always be part of my life. The end of this rapport doesn’t end that. I think that I gave a great deal of love, professionalism and courage for the whole Juve world. I am proud of that.

“All things must end. I am 43 years old and at this age you have to make choices that might seem unpopular, strange or even crazy, but I got to 43 like this because that little spark of madness allowed me to set no limits and dream in every moment of my life.

“I am happy when I am able to dream and recharge myself with new horizons, new projects and new challenges. I might not win, but that’s not what interests me. I never played to get trophies, I played in order to go on journeys, to challenge myself. That is the essence of my existence.

“I still need to challenge myself, to journey and to see where the limits of my body, my energy and my essence are. I already said last week, I don’t know what will happen. I could even retire, as I am a happy man, with a family I love.

“However, if there is someone even crazier than me who contacts me and imagines something even more marvellous, I will follow that person, because that’s what life is all about.”

The RAI Sport pundits joked he could try to start from Serie C and work his way back up to Serie A.

“I’d be more than capable of doing that! In my mind, life has to be lived to the last second with enthusiasm, the desire to surprise yourself even more than others. I am someone who asked so much of myself, probably more than people asked of me,” continued Buffon.

“As long as I have the arrogance or the assumption that I am a good goalkeeper, I will carry on and find something exciting. If I don’t find anything exciting, I could well retire, because I’ve done more or less everything by now.

“To be honest, I had a lot of contacts and I am analysing the proposals I received. The one I consider the most exciting, and when I find someone crazier than me, I’ll follow him. I recently received a message from a director of a club who in terms of ambition, madness and excitement can even beat me.”

Could Buffon even think of returning to the Italy squad for the 2022 World Cup after they failed to qualify in 2018?

“I still feel strong, so if I find that motivation to try another experience, I will keep going. I feel that I am still a good goalkeeper. I still feel that I am Buffon, so I don’t want any gifts. If someone thinks I am still competitive, that’s great.

“What I want to do is challenge myself. I’d like to reach December 2022 and still feel strong enough to play my part, great, but if they don’t call me, then that’s fine too.”

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