Juventus goalkeeper and Italy legend, Gianluigi Buffon, insists that he welcomes the competition that the potential signing of Wojciech Szczesny will bring.
- Szczesny has been on loan at Roma for two years
- Will Woj have to make do with a subsidiary role in Turin?
- Szczesny to agree €4m-a-year deal to sign for Juventus
- He thinks he’s going to Juventus: Szczesny’s Roma teammate gives update
- Buffon relishes competition from Szczesny
Szczesny has been heavily linked with a £14m move to Juventus in order to become Buffon’s long-term successor and it appears that the Italy international isn’t afraid of a little competition.
“This could be the last year and I would like to be a protagonist, as I have always dreamed of being,” Buffon said.
“To do that, I have to be important. I will work for this next year.”
“I’ve always been a rational person and I’ve always looked for the meaning of things. It’s right that Juve want Szczesny and that there is a good player like [18-year-old AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi] Donnarumma at the national team.
“For me, it will be a great motivation twice because, although I am 39-40 years, I have to maintain my place. If I no longer want to play, I’ll stay at home because Donnarumma and Szczesny are good goalkeepers by merit, not because someone gave them something.”
Buffon has a year left on his current deal and considering that he’s 39, it looks pretty certain that he’ll hang up his gloves at the end of next season.
Szczesny, meanwhile, has apparently agreed a €4m-per-year deal to sit on the bench, despite the impending World Cup next year.
It’s unlikely that the 27-year-old goalkeeper will see much much action between the sticks considering how treasured Buffon is by Juve, which makes the move an odd one since he could do the same at Arsenal and challenge Petr Cech for the number one shirt.
While it’s looking as if Szczesny will be at Juve next season, nothing’s set in stone yet, and Arsenal fans will still be hoping that Arsene Wenger can persuade the Poland international to return to north London.