Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has decided what he’ll do after this season “but we’ll announce it when the time comes”.
The goalkeeper is out of contract at the end of the current season, and had initially planned to hang up his gloves.
There have been rumours in recent weeks though that he could play on, and while a decision has been taken it won’t be announced yet.
“The only thing I have to do right now is focus on the end of the season,” Buffon shrugged, speaking to Tiki Taka.
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has decided what he’ll do after this season “but we’ll announce it when the time comes”.
The goalkeeper is out of contract at the end of the current season, and had initially planned to hang up his gloves.
There have been rumours in recent weeks though that he could play on, and while a decision has been taken it won’t be announced yet.
“The only thing I have to do right now is focus on the end of the season,” Buffon shrugged, speaking to Tiki Taka.
“The thing I can tell you is that I’m sure and I’m very happy with what will be my choice, together with the club, but we’ll announce it when the time comes.
“Right now it’s a point in the season where we have to be very concentrated.
“Each of us must follow the path that is inside of us, the passion that slowly grows in your own soul.
“Just as it was natural that it led me to being a footballer, I hope to have another flame of passion, perhaps not such a big one, that will show me a role and a path to follow for the future.
“As I often say, I think that for those who experience strong emotions like we do and have an important role like ours, stopping playing really is like a first death that you suffer.
“It’s inevitable, but it’s such a big shock and at such a young age an experience which is so beautiful it can seem like everything else has no value stops.
“But then I think you calmly realise, with serenity and conscience, that there are many other things that can give you satisfaction, many other things which can make you feel important and bring you other joys.”
Francesco Totti retired last year, and has made it clear he still feels the desire to step out on the pitch…
“I’ve known Francesco since the national Under-15 team, so we spent 25 years of football together, we shared important things.
“I’m not discovering anything or saying anything new when I underline that he, along with [Alex] Del Piero, [Andrea] Pirlo and [Roberto] Baggio have been the absolute best talents of the last 25-30 years.
“I’m talking about the attacking phase of course, otherwise I’d also have to include [Paolo] Maldini, [Alessandro] Nesta, [Fabio] Cannavaro and co.
“He [Totti] cut the chord which tied him to Roma as a sporting club, distancing him from the role of a player, but I also think that time comes for everyone and unfortunately when it does you have to take note.
“You need to make another choice and prepare for a different life. That’s normal and very… I don’t mean simple, because it could also be complicated but… inevitable.
“I don’t think there was any malice, any thought in what Francesco said. Francesco just expressed a feeling that I think will always be with him.
“It will always be with anyone who has been a protagonist on the pitch, who have had the good fortune and skill to make such an important mark.
“It’ll always be there, even at the age of 70.”
Buffon was also asked about another veteran star, tennis legend Roger Federer.
“Sometimes we message or write each other, we psychoanalyse each other. In a beautiful interview three or four years ago they asked him the secret of his longevity and he said: ‘I’m inspired by Buffon’.
“Clearly that was a very cute statement.”