Gigi Del Neri has dubbed the idea of selling Gigi Buffon “idiotic” and warned Juventus might not necessarily sign a new striker.
There have been reports for the last year that the goalkeeper could move on, with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Zenit said to be interested.
Those rumours intensified when Del Neri warned he would have to “earn his place” back from Marco Storari when returning from injury.
Gigi Del Neri has dubbed the idea of selling Gigi Buffon “idiotic” and warned Juventus might not necessarily sign a new striker.
There have been reports for the last year that the goalkeeper could move on, with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Zenit said to be interested.
Those rumours intensified when Del Neri warned he would have to “earn his place” back from Marco Storari when returning from injury.
“You can't say anything about great champions without the risk of being misunderstood,” explained the Coach in La Stampa newspaper.
“People wanted to create controversy by suggesting I didn't consider Buffon to be the best. I am not so crazy. Buffon has taught Coaches how to train goalkeepers for the past 10 years.
“How could I doubt his status? I respect the condition of someone coming from a serious operation and the only doubts I will raise when he returns to training are about his fitness.
“As for the idea of selling Buffon, that's just idiotic. He is a treasure for this club and we believe in him.”
Juve slipped down to fourth place in Serie A before the Christmas break and are expected to make changes in January, particularly with regards to a new forward.
“We will not sign a new player just for the sake of making a buy, as maintaining the balance of the squad is the most important thing,” continued Del Neri.
“We have proved that we can score through many different paths. I don't see any 20-goal-per-season hitmen around, while Fabio Quagliarella can get over 18 without changing the way we play. I don't want to depend on a centre-forward.”