Buffon was appointed head of the Italian delegation, and will work under the leadership of the “Azzurri” coach, Roberto Mancini.
“The blue shirt is part of my life,” Buffon said on Saturday. “I will put myself at the disposal of Roberto Mancini and the group, and I will tread lightly.”
“With Italy, it is not the prize that is important but the investment, the sacrifices and the availability,” he added.
The Italian Football Federation described the event as a “great day for Italy”, because “Gigi will come home”.
Buffon, who is considered one of the best goalkeepers in history, was crowned world champion with his country in 2006 and won the Italian League title ten times with Juventus.
And Buffon, who returned two years ago to the club of his beginnings, Parma, which is currently competing in the second division, is considered the player who played the most matches in the Italian League for the first degree (657).
With Parma (1995-2001 and 2021-2023) he won the European Cup (Europa League now) in 1999.
And with Juventus (2011-2018, 2019-2021), he snatched ten titles in Serie A, without being able to lift the Champions League title in three final matches in 2003, 2015 and 2017.
In his brief passage with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, he won the French League title, but he was bid farewell early with him from the Champions League.
His most important achievement remains leading Italy to its fourth World Cup title in 2006 in Germany, under the supervision of seasoned coach Marcello Lippi, and he became the last retired player from that golden squad.
© 2023 AFP
2023-08-05 15:54:09
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