Gianluigi Buffon’s sister insists “I really don’t think it’s time for goodbye”, though the Juventus goalkeeper is expected to announce his retirement.
The 40-year-old comes from a sporting family, and both of his sisters played volleyball for Italy.
Tomorrow he will hold a Press conference, where is seems certain he'll confirm that he's hanging up his gloves at the end of the season.
Gianluigi Buffon’s sister insists “I really don’t think it’s time for goodbye”, though the Juventus goalkeeper is expected to announce his retirement.
The 40-year-old comes from a sporting family, and both of his sisters played volleyball for Italy.
Tomorrow he will hold a Press conference, where is seems certain he'll confirm that he's hanging up his gloves at the end of the season.
“The more I see him on the pitch, the less he seems to me like a player on the cusp of walking into the sunset,” Veronica Buffon told Tuttosport.
“I was a volleyball player, and at 27 I had 1000 reasons for wanting to quit, but I wonder for what reason Gigi should do it? Because he’s 40? So what?
“We’re talking about a goalkeeper who was a protagonist in the seventh consecutive Scudetto won by Juventus, and the fourth Coppa Italia.
“Not to mention that in the Champions League, at the Bernabeu, he put in a fantastic performance. Gigi is a UNESCO world heritage, and trust me: I’ve played high level sport.
“I’m his sister, I love him very much and I’m biased, but I really don’t think it’s time for goodbye. Gigi’s eyes don’t give me the feeling he wants to stop.
“I’ve told him this so many times, but Gigi is a good guy he just laughs and almost always replies: ‘maybe it’s better this way’.
“As his sister and a former athlete I want to hear him say: ‘I’m stopping because I don’t have it anymore’, but that’s not how it is.”
Veronica Buffon also reflected on her brother’s desire to stay with the Old Lady after relegation to Serie B in the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.
“We were all at sea, we learned about Juventus’ relegation together. I looked at Gigi and I said ‘where are you going next year’.
“He shocked me by saying: ‘I’ll stay, even there’. Right away I thought he was crazy, but when I thought about it I wasn’t amazed. That’s how my brother is, a simple lad who acts on feelings.
“He then gave the same answer to the sporting director Alessio Secco, and I assure you that Gigi, fresh off becoming world champion, could have gone to play anywhere.
“My brother has always given his all for Juventus and Italy, so I was disappointed when I heard the controversy over his last two friendlies with Italy.”