Buffon leaves Juventus but does not withdraw from football

[G.O.G]

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon will play his last game with the Italian champion this weekend and tries out offers to play abroad.

Everything boasted that Buffon, considered one of the best archers of all time, was going to announce his retirement at a press conference in Turin on Thursday.

Instead, the 40-year-old goalkeeper said that the match against Hellas Verona on Saturday for Serie A will be his last with Juventus. He indicated that he has received "tempting" offers that made him change his mind about hanging his gloves.

"On Saturday it's my turn to play a game and that's the only sure thing," said Buffon, who broke down in tears at the start of the conference after being honored by Juventus president Andrea Agnelli.

"Until two weeks ago, I was determined to retire. Now I have offers that are tempting, with functions inside and outside the court, and the most important thing is that Agnelli was the one who proposed it to me. "

"I will let these three days pass and then I will make a final decision, in complete calmness, and I will decide which one best fits my personality and my way of being," he added.

Buffon debuted with Parma in 1995 and has been with Juve since 2001. He has ruled out going to another Italian club or losing the division.

"I'm not someone who thinks it's right to finish my career in the third or fourth division," Buffon said. "I am a competitive animal and I would not stand that situation. I would not be comfortable. "

It has been surmised that Buffon can go to Liverpool, a club that could give the former Italian captain the chance to win the Champions League, one of the few trophies missing in his collection, which is in the World Cup 2006. He has participated in three Champions finals, and lost them all.

"I have said that I have received very interesting offers," Buffon replied when he was mentioned about the possibility of moving to the English Premier League. "Next week, when it has calmed down a bit, I will decide what's best for me."

"If I decide to continue, it will be to fight for great things, because that's what I compete for," he added.

Buffon conquered his seventh title on Sunday followed by Serie A with Juve, a record number. Four days earlier, the Bianconeri were consecrated for the fourth consecutive time in the Italian Cup.

On Saturday, Buffon will reach 656 games with the Vecchia Signora. The captain's bracelet that Buffon has worn after the departure of Alessandro Del Piero in 2012, will go to another historic club, the defender Giorgio Chiellini. The Polish Wojciech Szczesny will be the Juventus starting goalkeeper from next season.

Buffon was also the captain of Italy until he retired from the national team in November, when the Azzurri succumbed to Sweden in a playoff for the World Cup.

But he acted in friendly matches and is expected to be finally dismissed in another friendly on June 4 against the Netherlands at the Allianz Stadium after 176 games with Italy.