Gianluigi Buffon pens love letter to the Juventus goal he defends

Yesterday Juventus and Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon broke and then set a new Serie A record for minutes played without conceding a goal. He went an incredible 974 minutes without conceding beating a 22 year old record set by AC Milan’s Sebastiano Rossi before cross city rivals Torino beat him from the penalty spot in yesterdays derby.

Buffon may be 38 years old but seems to get better with age. In a heartfelt letter he describes how he promises “to protect you. Look after you. A shield against all enemies” referring to his Juventus goal.  It should be stuck to the locker of every goalkeeper as Buffon displays the love he has in his position. Take a read for yourself:

“I was 12 when I turned my back on you, denying my past to guarantee you a safe future.

I went with my heart

I went with my instinct

But the day I stopped looking you in the face is also the day that I started to love you

To protect you

To be your first and last line of defence

I promised myself that I would do everything not to see your face again. Or that I would do it as little as possible. It was painful every time I did, turning round and realising I had disappointed you.

Again

And again.

We have always been opposites yet we are complementary, like the sun and the moon. Forced to live side by side without being able to touch. Team-mates for life, a life in which we are denied all contact

More than 25 years ago I made my vow: I swore to protect you. Look after you. A shield against all your enemies. I’ve always thought about your welfare, putting it first even ahead of my own.

I was 12 when I turned my back on my goal. And I will keep doing it as long as my legs, my head and my heart will allow.”

Gianluigi Buffon one of the all time greats.

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