Former Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon recently addressed some of the more controversial moments from his storied career during a book fair in Turin, where he was promoting his new autobiography.
Buffon, now serving as team manager for the Italian national squad under coach Luciano Spalletti, expressed mixed feelings about his infamous confrontation with referee Michael Oliver during a 2018 Champions League match. The incident occurred when Juventus was eliminated by Real Madrid after a last-minute penalty decision.
“Looking back, I`m ashamed of what I said,” Buffon admitted. “At my age and position as captain, I should have known better. However, I must confess that if faced with the same situation again, I would likely react the same way.”
He explained the context of his outburst: “It wasn`t just a defeat. It was the end of an epic comeback in a legendary stadium. We had shown exceptional character and unity as a team. To this day, I`m still unsure why I was sent off, which fueled my anger in the post-match interviews.”
Buffon also reflected on other contentious moments in his career, including matches officiated by Byron Moreno. “I got along well with most referees,” he said. “But everyone rightfully saw Moreno as the real culprit in our 2002 World Cup elimination. While we bear some responsibility, his officiating in that match was abysmal.”
These reflections offer a glimpse into the passion and occasional controversy that marked Buffon`s long and distinguished career in football.