Italy and Juventus veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has said he is seriously considering retirement from football at the end of the summer, unless Juventus emerge winners of the UEFA Champions League.
“This is my last season and I’m pretty convinced with the decision I have taken. More than anything, I am a serene person in that I have no fear for the future and what could be my life.
“One or two more years wouldn’t add or take away from what I’ve already achieved.
“I am facing it and I will face it with the desire and enthusiasm to put myself to the test. As a consequence, playing on for one or two more years would not take anything away from or add anything to what I have already done.
The veteran goalkeeper won the Best goalkeeper award at the just concluded Best FIFA Award in London. He has featured for Juventus since 2001 and played over 600 minutes of UEFA Champions League matches without conceding a goal.
Buffon began his career with Panama before joining the Old Ladies of Juventus with a £23 million transfer fee in 2001.
He helped Italy win the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany beating Zinedine Zidane led team on penalties. Buffon has also won eight Serie A titles, four Italian Cups and one UEFA Cup with Juventus but he is yet to clinch the UEFA Champions League with the Club losing out to Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid in two finals.
The Italian at 39, hopes to help Italy at the Russia World Cup in 2018 should Italy qualify in the play-offs.