Gianluigi Buffon has left the door open to a return to Parma in a director role, insisting he is receptive to opportunities that genuinely excite him while stopping short of confirming any concrete discussions with the club that launched his professional career.
Speaking to Gazzetta di Parma, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the legendary goalkeeper, who began his career at Parma before his iconic spell at Juventus and returned to the club for a final season before retiring, was characteristically passionate when addressing the possibility.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – SEPTEMBER 07: Head of Italy delegation Gianluigi Buffon reacts during a Italy training session at Bozsik Stadion on September 07, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Buffon praises Parma’s goalkeeper trio and backs Cuesta to continue as coach
“I am open to things that can excite me and that make sense,” Buffon said.
“In the people and proposals I receive there must be something that gets inside me. Because I am not the person for standard relationships or standard contracts. You have to know how to reach me. And it is very simple, because when you do know how to reach me, you know that Gigi gives you everything.
“So I am open to things that are not forced, things that make me dream and make me feel I can be a piece, a professional, a real added value in that context.”
Buffon also spoke warmly about Parma’s remarkable goalkeeping situation this season, in which all three of the club’s keepers won the MVP award at different stages.
“The Parma youth sector produces something,” he said. “Suzuki was expected to do well. Corvi deserves great credit, in a very delicate moment of the season he responded as a solid goalkeeper, which is the most important thing. And Rinaldi was a beautiful surprise. Long live the Parma goalkeepers.”
Asked about coach Carlos Cuesta, Buffon was supportive. “For the results he has brought, I think there should be no difficulty in continuing that relationship,” he said.
“Though as I always say, it depends on the expectations for next year and how the directors evaluate the work of the coach, and above all whether that work is right for the club’s ambitions going forward.”