Antonio Cassano backs former Italy teammate Gigi Buffon to continue playing until he is 45.
The Juventus goalkeeper retired from international football after the Azzurri failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
And with his contract in Turin set to expire in June, it remains to be seen whether the iconic goalkeeper will end his career altogether at the conclusion of the season.
However, Cassano believes it would be a waste of Buffon’s enduring class if he were to hang up his gloves for good.
Antonio Cassano backs former Italy teammate Gigi Buffon to continue playing until he is 45.
The Juventus goalkeeper retired from international football after the Azzurri failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
And with his contract in Turin set to expire in June, it remains to be seen whether the iconic goalkeeper will end his career altogether at the conclusion of the season.
However, Cassano believes it would be a waste of Buffon’s enduring class if he were to hang up his gloves for good.
“Did you see his saves in Bergamo? He got everything, how can someone like that not play anymore?” the forward told Corriere della Serra.
“A goalkeeper can continue playing until the age of 45.”
Cassano, who backs Buffon’s Juventus to win a seventh successive Scudetto, also discussed his relationship with new Torino Coach Walter Mazzarri.
The duo worked together at Sampdoria, with the 35-year-old thriving in a ‘false nine’ role.
“Mazzarri always treated his forwards favourably. That’s how it was with me as well.
“When he was doing drills on the training pitch, he would keep the team on the pitch for hours and say ‘leave the madman alone, he’ll be taking some shots.’ The madman was me.
“Fifteen years ago it was Capello who made me into a false nine and then Mazzarri, at Samp.
“Mazzarri never did anything bad to me, those are things made up by other people.”
Cassano is still without a club but insists he will play again if he feels the total confidence of a President and Coach.