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Buffon: Return to Juventus natural

The greatest ever talks about his favourite teams growing up and more

Olympique Lyon v Juventus - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

With no sports playing actively, it’s been a quiet time for sports media in general especially as COVID-19 continues to spread and concern rightfully has focused on the health and wellbeing of human beings across the world.

Talking about sport tends to be cathartic for many and provides us a bit of an escape in our daily lives, and listening/reading to what Gianluigi Buffon has to say is always one of those moments.

Speaking on Juventus TV (via Football Italia), the legend insisted that he was a Juve fan growing up in Carrara even though it’s widely held that he was a Genoa fan.

“Do you want a revelation? Which I have never said as I didn’t want to look the part of a company man? As a child, up to the age of seven, I was a Juventus fan.

“But I fell in love with Giovanni Trapattoni and when he went to Inter [in 1986], I hesitated because my love for his character was such that I then supported Inter Milan.

“Then I started to cheer for Pescara, Como, Avellino, Campobasso, and then from 12 years old, I started supporting Genoa.

“This makes it clear how important figures are beyond the team. Trapattoni electrified me.”

To no one’s surprised, Gigi made his return to Turin last summer after one year away with Paris St. Germain, but will be retiring now?

“The return to Juve was natural, in the end I had a wonderful year in Paris and I must say that I needed it to detoxify myself.

“However it’s clear that the contact with Juve was always there, with the President, with Fabio Paratici, and old friends. I played a season abroad without cutting the umbilical cord.

“I don’t know what will happen next year, it is true that two years ago I practically retired and then what happened, happened.

“Why am I not retiring? Because I feel fine, and I want to respect the dreams I had when I was a small boy. At that age I would’ve been thrilled had they told me that I would become a Serie C goalkeeper.”

Juventus TV is free right now for one month as you stay at home and try to stay entertained, see the tweet below for more information.