Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon sees Milan as viable Scudetto contenders – “they’ve spent so much money…”
The Rossoneri are the last team other than Juve to win the title, and have invested heavily this summer to try and return to that level.
“I look forward to a more balanced league,” Buffon told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon sees Milan as viable Scudetto contenders – “they’ve spent so much money…”
The Rossoneri are the last team other than Juve to win the title, and have invested heavily this summer to try and return to that level.
“I look forward to a more balanced league,” Buffon told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“You’ll see the value of teams who had a few seasons of decline. It will make Serie A more enjoyable in a sporting sense, even if last year Napoli and Roma were fighting: compared to the past we couldn’t open up a gap.
“Are Milan contenders? I think so, they’ve spent so much money even if I’m not surprised in this market, we’re in a state of indefinite valuations.
“I don’t understand the parameters for valuing a player anymore, it’s all very random and everything is in the hands of those who have more money.
“Today it’s €10m, tomorrow €100m.
“It’s normal that when establishing valuations there have to be parameters. It all seems fake. Why is Neymar worth €220m and not €600m?
“When I was little my grandfather always told me that the balloon swells and swells, then it bursts.”
Leonardo Bonucci is one of those who have joined Milan, are Juve still the strongest team?
“We’re different. Bonucci and Dani Alves have features which are not typical of their roles, so our way of playing will definitely be different.
“As for better or worse, I don’t know, we’ll have to wait before we can say that.
“Leo felt he needed a new challenge and Milan intrigued him. It was probably the same for Dani [at Paris Saint-Germain], when you get to our age you want to test yourself in every country.
“What did I say to Bonucci? We messaged each other, but what we said will remain between us. I’ll always want good things for him, there’s a strong bond between us.
“He grew up so much over these seven years, as a footballer and in his temperament. He did well for Juve, and the team did well for him.
“Do I feel betrayed? No. Everyone has their own situations, including family and personal ones which have a weight.
“No-one but me thanked him on social media? It depends on the relationship you have with social media. I don’t use it much, but I did so because Leo and I were always in contact and had a good understanding.
“At a time when he needed it, judging by what was going on in the media, it was just a show of support.
“Do we need a new defender? I wouldn’t change this group of defenders with any in the world. I say that with conviction, because with my experience I can say that ours is the best.
“I’m not saying that to try and seem united, it’s because I believe it. Six years ago I said our back-three was the best in Europe, one of the best I’d played with. Everyone laughed, but after a year or two it went exactly as I said.
“The 4-2-3-1 formation? We’re starting with a well-defined formation, which was [Coach Max] Allegri’s happy intuition and the club has moved to find the spare parts.
“We have a squad more suited to this way of playing and it’ll help us.”
The veteran was also asked about the Bianconeri’s summer signings, starting with whether Federico Bernardeschi should be given the number 10 shirt.
“Federico was a great bit of business from the club, he’s a pure talent,” Buffon said.
“He’s a young lad with huge margins for physical and technical improvement, as well as a desire to learn and a ruthlessness I haven’t seen in many young lads.
“At first he’ll benefit more from Juve, but in the long run he’ll become a reference point for the fans and the team.
“That said, the 10 is an important, heavy shirt so we need to evaluate things to avoid slowing the growth of a great talent.
“Paulo Dybala? It’s pointless to put anything in rumours. No-one is sure to stay until the transfer window closes.
“What the club and Dybala have said matters though, he’ll help Juve to get where we haven’t arrived yet.
“Can Mattia De Sciglio get back to his best? I hope so, because Mattia was in a phase of stalling. I don’t know why, but he had to get out to find a consecration and sometimes a change of scenery can help.
“There’s nowhere in Italy that can help you more than Juve.”
This is the first year VAR will be used in Serie A, will it cause more or less controversy?
“I’ll be very happy. It will definitely help the referees and turn off the controversy.
“I’d re-analyse the last six seasons with VAR, we’d see that we won on the pitch and deserved to.”