His country needs him
Gigi Buffon is clearly a man who doesn’t does not want to retire. He is still going strong as Juventus captain at the age of 40 and probably still has another season in him at the top level. It’s this self-belief, as well as a sense of duty, that has made him reverse his decision to retire from international football and return to the Italy set up for the upcoming friendlies.
Buffon retired from international football after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but caretaker coach Luigi Di Biagio has asked the veteran goalkeeper to play a role in Italy’s upcoming matches against Argentina and England in March and Buffon has duly obliged.
“There’s nothing to add other than that I feel a sense of responsibility and faith which I still feel I must give to the national team during this transitional moment,” Buffon told Italian programme Tiki Taka on Mediaset.
“There is a cycle of delicate friendly games and I thought I would go on holiday for a few days, but when the national team needs you, you have got to be present and not desert them. It’s a form of faithfulness and responsibility towards Italy.”
“A new Italy national team is being born and the first games are hardly easy. We face Argentina and England and I think that a few experienced players will be useful at the start.”
The heir to his throne, Gianluigi Donnarumma will also be in the squad but will not be tasked with shouldering the responsibility of being first choice just yet. There is still time for him to learn from the master.
He discussed the possibility of retirement, which he will decide on come the end of the season.
“I just want to focus on the end of the season now,” Buffon said. “I’m convinced and relaxed about whatever my decision will be, which will be announced together with the club at the right moment.”
The thought of such a legendary player leaving the game hurts him as much as it hurst the fans; he even compared it to death.
“For those who live life with such strong emotions as us footballers, stopping playing is like the first death that you suffer, because it’s the end of such a beautiful experience that anything else does not seem to matter. But then, with time, you realise that there are other things which still make you feel important.”
