Buffon expected to announce future on Thursday

Dom Farrell

Buffon expected to announce future on Thursday image

Gianluigi Buffon will hold a news conference on Thursday, with the veteran Juventus goalkeeper expected to make an announcement about his future.

The 40-year-old Italy international previously stated he would stop playing at the end of this season, unless Juventus won the Champions League and he had a FIFA Club World Cup campaign to look forward to.

Juve were knocked out in a quarter-final thriller against Real Madrid, with Buffon sent off for a tirade against referee Michael Oliver that continued after the match.

Nevertheless, by the time that Santiago Bernabeu drama came around last month, Buffon had already cast doubt on the expected end of his playing career by suggesting retirement was not guaranteed.

Despite Italy failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Azzurri great captained his country once more for March's friendly against Argentina in Manchester.

"I can't tell lies or create any false expectations," he told Sky Sport Italia in February. "The truth is I still have to meet with the president, with whom I have a gentleman's agreement, and we will make a definitive decision then.

"The days [after defeat to Sweden in the World Cup playoff] were difficult. I wanted to end my career at the World Cup because I think it would have been the most fitting moment to remember and honour my career. Unfortunately, it didn't work out."

Buffon wrapped up Coppa Italia and Serie A glory with Juventus last week – a fourth consecutive domestic double for Massimiliano Allegri's side.

He has won Serie A on nine occasions and been capped 176 times by Italy.

Dom Farrell

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.