Buffon: "I will retire after the World Cup, but..."

The potential retirement of Gianluigi Buffon is never far from the news, with many thinking that he may well have hung up his gloves had Juventus defeated Real in the Champions League Final. That of course was not the case, but according to 'Sky Sports' the evergreen stopper has admitted that he is "99% certain% that he will retire following the World Cup next year. Though he admits that a Champions League title with Juve could convince him to commit to one more year.

When asked about why he would carry on after winning the Champions League, he replied that it would give him the opportunity to play in 2 further European competitions that have thus far eluded him, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup. 

Buffon rubished suggestions that continuing his career into his 40s could damage his legacy and claimed that Juventus' well-documented interest in Arsenal Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and the emergence of Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Italian national side would only motivate him futher.

Few would begrudge Buffon a Champions League title, with many seeing it as a fitting end to an illustious career.