At 43, the end of his career seems to be approaching for Gianluigi Buffon.
“In my head, there is really a deadline which is June 2023,” said the former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper in an interview with British newspaper The Guardian on Wednesday.
“2023 is really the maximum.
But I could very well stop playing in four months.
I learned that nothing was certain in life, ”he added.
The player whose contract with Juventus will end next June is currently the substitute goalkeeper of the Polish Wojciech Szczesny at the Turin club.
In 2017, Buffon had already declared that he wanted to retire in 2018 before finally signing up with Paris Saint-Germain for a year during the 2018-2019 season.
The Italian international with 176 caps had not extended with the capital club then returning to Juventus, where he played for 17 years between 2001 and 2018.
“I am also someone who firmly believes in fate.
When Juventus offered me the chance to come back, I thought: Madonna!
You never know, maybe there's a reason, something I'm supposed to go back, one last great story to write.
So I have to be honest, there is also a part of ego that we all have I think ”, explained the former Parisian.
"I never imagined that I would play so long"
This season, Buffon has played ten matches for Juventus, five Serie A matches, four in the Italian Cup and one in the Champions League (on the sixth day of the group stage against FC Barcelona on December 8 2020, Juventus had won 3-0).
“They say that when you reach my age, the decline happens all of a sudden, any moment.
I don't believe it.
I feel what I feel, and the sensations I have don't make me think that there is going to be a sudden collapse.
"
Player holding the record for number of Serie A appearances with 654 appearances, the Italian goalkeeper would continue until 45 if he retires in 2023. “I never imagined that I would play so long.
But I think these are great stories, ”he added.