On the occasion of the release of his autobiography, Gianluigi Buffon spoke at length to Corriere della Sera. The former PSG goalkeeper (2018-2019) names the strongest player he played against
Retired since August 2023, the Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon (46 years old) tells his story in an autobiography entitled “Fall, get up, fall, get up” and which comes out this Tuesday in Italy. On the sidelines of the release of his book, the short-lived PSG goalkeeper (25 matches in Paris during the 2018-2019 season) spoke at length to Corriere della Sera.
“Neymar should have won 5 Ballons d’Or” according to Buffon
The former Italian goalkeeper talks about his depression at the end of 2003, but also other lighter subjects, such as the strongest player he played against. “I played with three generations, difficult to choose. Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, CR7, Iniesta… If I had to choose just one? Neymar. For the player and the boy he is, he should have won 5 Ballons d'Or. »
Neymar's teammate at PSG during the 2018/2019 season, “Gigi” Buffon also returned to the terrible evening of March 2019 in which the Brazilian did not participate since he was injured. Winner 2-0 at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, PSG thought they had done the hardest part, but collapsed on the return leg, losing 3-1 in stoppage time on a Marcus Rashford penalty. A penalty synonymous with elimination.
“Perhaps I still had a provincial mentality”
At fault on the 2-1 goal by Romelu Lukaku, Buffon had sensed the drama coming: “We won 2-0 in Manchester against United. I understood that we were not preparing the return in the right way. But I didn't say it: after all, I was the last to arrive, perhaps I still had a provincial mentality, they were all champions, Mbappé had just won the World Cup… We immediately conceded a goal from a defensive error, the second was also the fault of an imprecise clearance on my part, we then took the third and were eliminated. We had not prepared well for the return match. »
World champion in 2006 with Italy and winner of numerous national trophies with Juventus, Buffon never won the Champions League during his career, despite three finals in 2003, 2015 and 2017. One of his biggest regrets at the sporting level.
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