In my opinion, there are fewer and fewer great goalkeepers because, with respect to when I started, they have to do so much more compared with in the past. – Gianluigi Buffon
Everyone gets scared from time to time. It’s totally normal, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. – Gianluigi Buffon
I have a wealth of experience, but I do not want to coach. I rather like the role of recruiter. – Gianluigi Buffon
I have not lost an awful lot in my life, but the defeats have taught me more than the victories. Whenever I lose, I focus on the ability of my opponent and on the mistakes I made. – Gianluigi Buffon
I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I think that’s normal for someone who wants to grow and develop. You will have to overcome plenty of obstacles, and it is normal that you should stumble sometimes. – Gianluigi Buffon
Maybe I’m the only footballer who isn’t interested in cars. My Lancia Y gets me around. – Gianluigi Buffon
It’s fine to admit being nervous – after the event. But if you tell people you’re uptight before the game, it can be like, ‘That guy’s got problems. We can’t trust him.’ – Gianluigi Buffon
I took what I’ve been given, and I got where I did on the basis of something that is often undervalued – merit. – Gianluigi Buffon
I do not take to the field to defend myself from certain criticisms. If I do, in this kind of career, it is because I’m very self-critical. – Gianluigi Buffon
In the end, you need to be a little masochistic to be a goalkeeper. A masochist and egocentric as well. – Gianluigi Buffon
The pitch is the most beautiful part of the game; it gives you emotions which bring meaning to life. – Gianluigi Buffon
If I do something, I do it with the idea to get to the top – without that, I would stop living. – Gianluigi Buffon
I thought psychologists were people who rob, figuratively of course, money from the insecure. But they are not. They are people who are there to help you, and if you find a good psychologist, they will allow you to talk about everything and open up, without the slightest of fears, and that is no easy thing. – Gianluigi Buffon
If I can push myself up to the 2018 World Cup, then I’ll go on. After that, I’ll close the door and stop playing football. – Gianluigi Buffon
To the fans, it does not matter a damn how you are. You are seen as the footballer, the idol, so no one thinks to stop and ask you, ‘Hey, how are you?’ – Gianluigi Buffon
People don’t mind you feeling low if you are still performing. But if you’ve shared too much, and suddenly your performance dips, that’s when they start doubting you. – Gianluigi Buffon
I do not need to hear how I am judged by others. I know by myself if I can be satisfied or not with my work. – Gianluigi Buffon
Even if I were offered twice my salary elsewhere, I would stay at Juve. Doing so would make me proud, as it is a worthy thing to do. – Gianluigi Buffon
I went through a lot of changes and a period of depression. I’d reached an age when I had to grow up and start taking life a bit more seriously, which had a huge impact on me. I suffered terrible anxiety, and sometimes, in the middle of a game, my legs would start shaking uncontrollably. It was pretty scary. – Gianluigi Buffon
Not looking for excuses is the right thing to do. I have made a lot of mistakes, and I still make mistakes, but I am not ashamed to look for the reasons behind those mistakes. – Gianluigi Buffon
The role of a goalkeeper is difficult to judge, above all if you haven’t been a goalkeeper. It’s like me giving an opinion on someone’s job without having had any experience in their sector. You start to realise how many stupid things are said and written about goalkeepers. – Gianluigi Buffon
