Former Juventus and Barcelona defender Lilian Thuram says Gigi Buffon will be at ‘200 per cent’ in the Champions League final.
The two sides will meet next month in the final in Berlin, and Buffon has never won Europe’s top club prize, one of the few medals missing from his collection.
“We’ve been friends since our days at Parma,” Thuram explained when asked about the goalkeeper by Mundo Deportivo.
Former Juventus and Barcelona defender Lilian Thuram says Gigi Buffon will be at ‘200 per cent’ in the Champions League final.
The two sides will meet next month in the final in Berlin, and Buffon has never won Europe’s top club prize, one of the few medals missing from his collection.
“We’ve been friends since our days at Parma,” Thuram explained when asked about the goalkeeper by Mundo Deportivo.
“Gigi will be at 200 per cent, he wants to win it. Buffon is fantastic, he’s back to the top level. He’s a true great, and I’d like to see him win the Champions League in his career.
“Because of lads like him, my heart is split down the middle, I know a lot of people in both teams, a lot of friends.”
The former French international sees Barcelona as slight favourites, but is not ruling out the Bianconeri.
“For me what’s important is that they both play. When I was a player, if the other team were better then I accepted the defeat.
“I hope it’s a really good final, there will be different styles on show. Barcelona like to have control of the game and the ball.
“Juve focus on the intensity of the game, being defensively organised and waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Juve consider it important to keep the ball, but scoring a goal more so. The Juve players have great desire and motivation.
“Barcelona are perhaps the slight favourite, but in games like this you can’t really say.
“In 2003 I eliminated Barça with Juve, and I see some parallels between the situations. We weren’t favourites, but in the end we won.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Juventus squad. They’re facing the strongest team in the world, and the best player [Lionel Messi].
“Messi or [Thuram’s former France teammate Zinedine] Zidane? Why choose one?!
"They could play together, because they’re two great players. Zidane moved throughout the whole team, distributing the ball, Messi is more decisive, scoring and making goals.”