Gianluigi Buffon has insisted he has no guarantees over his starting place at Paris Saint-Germain, but is relishing the challenge of proving his worth at his new club.
The 40-year-old made the move to PSG after bringing an end to his long association with Juventus and joined two well-respected goalkeepers in the form of Alphonse Areola and Kevin Trapp.
It gives new manager Thomas Tuchel an embarrassment of riches to choose from between the sticks, but Buffon, as one of the most respected goalkeepers of all time, is expected to be first-choice.
However, Buffon insists he did not want any guarantee of playing time as part of the deal that brought him to Parc des Princes – he will only accept the No 1 shirt if he earns it.
‘I haven’t spoken to anybody, but it’s important for me to say one thing: in my 24-year career, nobody has ever told me ‘you will be the main goalkeeper’,’ he said at a media conference. ‘I believe that one has to train and put himself in the best condition to play when called. And once again I am here to do my best when I am called by the coach, but also to help everybody improve. So I have two functions.’
Buffon was widely expected to retire after his 17-year stay at Juventus and had also been linked with a move to Major League Soccer. Joining another major European club, therefore, came as a surprise to many.
His decision invites the prospect of the two clubs meeting in the Champions League this season, but Buffon insists he has no regrets over his decision to move to a potential rival.
‘I feel very well,’ he said. ‘If I have chosen to continue playing and accept such a challenge it’s because I love challenges, I love to do well and I love finishing my job in the best possible way.
‘That’s the challenge that I liked the most and the only one that could keep me playing. And I want to win this challenge with everybody’s help. I could never do it alone.’
Gianluigi Buffon brushed off questions about the hysteria Juventus signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid has caused.
Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri voiced concerns that Ronaldo’s arrival has stirred up “too much euphoria” ahead of the new Serie A season.
But the hype in Turin does not appear to have reached club icon Buffon, who sidestepped the topic of the Portugal superstar in a media conference on Sunday.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper left Juve for Paris Saint-Germain over the off-season and has moved to detach himself from events at his former home.
“What Juve are doing now is something that only concerns me as a spectator,” Buffon told reporters.
“Juventus is a great club, like PSG, and I believe that both have done their best, and will continue to do so, to make their teams as competitive as they can.”
While Allegri is attempting to cool the excitement around Ronaldo’s signing, the addition of the Champions League’s all-time leading goalscorer has heightened belief Juve could end a drought in the competition which stretches back to 1996.
Europe’s most-coveted club crown is one of few trophies to have eluded Buffon, but the veteran insists three final defeats had nothing to do with him leaving Italy.
“The meaning of this choice was so I could continue to play … at the highest level,” he said.
“Plus, I have always been excited by a challenge in a foreign country … and such an ambitious and important one as Paris.
“I think that after 40 years in Italy, changing is something that can help me improve as a man and as a professional because I’m getting into a new world.”