Gianluigi Buffon, the legendary former Juventus and Italy goalkeeper, recently gave an extensive interview to Juventibus, reflecting on his illustrious career and touching upon significant moments such as Serie B, Calciopoli, and more.
Buffon spoke about his new book, saying, “It’s always nice to rewind the tape and see life’s journey with more mature eyes, trying to understand the motivations behind certain choices and mistakes. The journey means understanding who your companions are. Not playing an individual sport, sharing has always been fundamental for me. Knowing I could suffer and rejoice intensely with certain teammates was crucial, feeling part of a story, of a journey.”
He emphasized the importance of physical well-being for athletes: “A fundamental tool for us athletes. The only two years where I had more acute problems, I still managed to perform. Being physically well helps clear possible clouds in the mind. If I was mentally fit on the field, I saw things clearly and sometimes surprised myself.”
Buffon described what it means to be part of Juventus: “Being Juventus means being part of and representing the largest segment of the Italian population. It means having responsibilities above average. Many choices I’ve made were influenced by my passion for representing not just a team but a people.”
He recalled advice from coach Marcello Lippi: “Lippi told me, ‘You’ll come to Juve; at the first mistake, you’ll be massacred. Don’t worry; it’s part of the journey.’ The credibility of the person you’re talking to becomes fundamental.”
Reflecting on Juventus’ relegation, Buffon said: “Serie B was very special and beautiful. It was one of the reasons that led me to make a choice that conditioned my career. I was 28 years old; it was the best period for a professional goalkeeper. I did it because I felt it was the right choice.”
On Calciopoli, Buffon stated: “I’ve always focused on what happened on the field. Those championships that were discussed, I lived as a protagonist with my teammates as the team to beat. I still have those medals; I smile at them because I know what happened on the field and who deserved it.”
He described his feelings during the scandal: “For me, it was humiliating to be called into question. You can say anything about me; sometimes I do unusual things, but don’t touch certain aspects because you’re touching the wrong person.”
Buffon addressed rumors after a loss in Cardiff: “A metropolitan legend that hurts because it suggests a group losing its head and respect for each other. The truth is nothing happened beyond what usually occurs in locker rooms.”
Discussing leadership in the current Juventus team, Buffon noted: “In this Juve, there’s a need to centralize leadership towards the game and coach. Players are of excellent level as Juve requires.”
Buffon praised Carlos Tevez: “He moved me like few others. It’s not about being good players or champions; it’s about how much you impact the team with behaviors that may not be visible but are significant.”
Buffon expressed admiration for Antonio Conte: “Conte is special for me; he refreshed in me what it meant to represent Juve.” He also spoke highly of Marcello Lippi for their shared World Cup victory.
Reflecting on a pivotal win against Sassuolo, Buffon admitted: “On May 5th, I believed only 1%. The year we turned things around with Sassuolo, I felt if we found the right key, we could compete for it.”
