Gianluigi Buffon it's time to hang gloves

Also for Gianluigi Buffon it's time to hang gloves and boots. At 45, in fact, the former goalkeeper of the Italian national team has decided to retire from the football played, with the official announcement that will be made in the next few hours, after he will meet Parma to terminate early the contract that bound him to the Ducali until 2024. A decision, that of Gigione, taken after months of reflection and after a long holiday to clear his ideas, with the now former extreme defender ready to face a new adventure far from the field, but not too far away. After the retirement, in fact, he will become head of the delegation of the Italian national team.

A choice, that of Buffon, taken in one of the hottest summers, from the point of view of the climate but also of the market given the many advances from Saudi Arabia. But a decision, which came in at 45, that had been in the air for some time and is now one step away from being made official.

Gigi therefore greets the world of football after 28 seasons as a protagonist, of which 8 with the Gialloblù jersey (from 1995 to 2001 first and from 2021 to 2023 then), 19 with that of Juventus (2001-2018 and 2019-2021) and one with that of Paris Saint Germain (2018-19). A goalkeeper who is history of Italian football and beyond, with an unconfined palmarès, enriched by the World Cup won in 2006, and a slew of records. He is in fact the player with the most appearances in the history of Serie A, the one who has won it several times (10) and is the goalkeeper with the longest streak of unbeaten in the history of the top league (974 minutes). Just to name a few. He is also the record holder of appearances with the blue jersey both in absolute (176), and as captain (80).