Napoli’s Scudetto-winning Coach Ottavio Bianchi claims Italy must start “thinking about” Gianluigi Buffon’s heir – and it could be Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Questions have been raised about Buffon’s longevity in the Italy set-up as his mistake cost the Azzurri a point against Spain last Thursday, and Bianchi feels Milan teenager Donnarumma should be allowed to challenge the Juventus goalkeeper, despite their age difference.
Napoli’s Scudetto-winning Coach Ottavio Bianchi claims Italy must start “thinking about” Gianluigi Buffon’s heir – and it could be Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Questions have been raised about Buffon’s longevity in the Italy set-up as his mistake cost the Azzurri a point against Spain last Thursday, and Bianchi feels Milan teenager Donnarumma should be allowed to challenge the Juventus goalkeeper, despite their age difference.
“It’s not too early to think of life after Buffon, there are some easy games and you have to think about the future,” he told Radio Radio.
“Buffon is, was and will be Buffon, but his age is what it is. There’s the opportunity to give others the opportunity of some international experience.
“I look at the present, not the past. On the pitch, they see him every day. If a 16-17-18-year-old player is doing better than a 40-year-old then it’s unacceptable that they don’t play [the teenager].
“We mustn’t only think about the dressing room. If we follow the conspiracy that a Coach creates problems if he leaves out a veteran then we can’t improve the game of football.
“Is Donnarumma able to take Buffon’s place? At Milan, he’s shown a lot and displayed character.
“If we want to work with the future in mind then we have to think about an alternative to a great player like Buffon.”