Buffon Opens Up On Career Regrets, Gattuso Backing, And Difficult Juventus Chapter

Gianluigi Buffon has spoken at length about several moments from his career, including a rocky period at Juventus and his backing of Gennaro Gattuso as Italy head coach, during a lengthy appearance on the podcast Tutto in piazza with Ivan Zazzaroni.

Reflecting on mistakes made throughout his career, Buffon said everyone goes through difficult stretches where things that once felt natural become harder. 

"Each of us goes through moments when we feel a certain discomfort in doing what we have always done naturally. But mistakes help you grow if you are the one who pays for them personally and puts your name to them. I have made a great many, but I have always forgiven myself," he said.

Buffon also touched on his decision to step away from his role with the Italian national team after their playoff elimination against Bosnia, saying he has no regrets about walking away when he did. 

"After the elimination against Bosnia I chose to leave and it turned out very well for me because I am one of the few Italians who takes responsibility and gets the fuck out, whereas many others always want to come back," he said.

He also defended his support for Gattuso as head coach, insisting he'd make the same call again despite the disappointing result. 

"Gattuso? I pushed to have him as head coach and I would do so again now, he was the right man for the moment we were going through. It is not one missed penalty that changes my mind."

Buffon also gave his honest take on Como's chances of competing for the Serie A title this season, pushing back against some of the hype surrounding the club. 

"Can I say one thing about Como? I hear a lot of people who, perhaps even unconsciously and in good faith, are tipping them as possible Serie A title winners. I believe that if Como were to improve on last year and finish third, they would have pulled off a miracle. If they were to finish fourth, they would have done a tremendous job; fifth or sixth, they would have done a good job."

He pointed to the added demands of European football as a major factor working against Como, especially given their lack of experience at that level. 

"Above all because there is the Champions League. Fabregas was not playing it down, he played at the highest level: having to play important competitions like the Champions League, for players who are not used to playing every three days, will be tough. If Fabregas finishes third, he is a phenomenon."

One of the most personal parts of the interview came when Buffon opened up about a difficult stretch during his time at Juventus, a period he admits he handled poorly himself. 

"There was only one moment when I no longer felt part of the Juve project and it was partly my fault. I do things my own way, I am a complicated simple person and you have to know how to handle me. I never threw my status around but I did not want anyone to take advantage of it because that drives me mad."

He traced the issue back to the 2010-2011 season, when he was recovering from a serious back injury while the club underwent major changes behind the scenes. 

"It was in 2010-2011, after my back injury. A lot of things changed, Marotta, Paratici and Agnelli arrived. I was out injured for six months and I almost felt like a burden. Since I am a little animal, and I sensed certain situations, I know I gave so much to Juve and I could have thrown my weight around anywhere and I never did, so it felt like something unfair and I withdrew into my shell, that was not the right way to handle me."

Buffon admitted he can become difficult to deal with when communication breaks down, and described cutting himself off from the club entirely during that period. 

"I am a reasonable person with people who are clear and transparent and who engage in a certain kind of dialogue on a logical basis; if that is missing I become unreasonable. There was a period when I had to recover from the injury but I was no longer going to the training ground. They called me to check in but I did not answer. For 3-4 months I cut everyone off."

He also revealed that a meeting with Andrea Agnelli, Fabio Paratici and Beppe Marotta eventually helped turn things around, even though he had seriously considered leaving the club at the time. 

"I remember going to speak to Agnelli, I met Paratici and Marotta for the first time and I must say they had the right and appropriate attitude. At that moment Roma and Arsenal wanted me, I had thought about it. I said: 'If they think here that I could become a problem', if they could make that argument then I could make it too, I was 32, I was not that old."