Italy Legend Buffon Expected To Announce Retirement

Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is expected to announce his retirement at a news conference at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Thursday.

Buffon, 40, captained Juventus to a seventh straight Serie A title and fourth consecutive Coppa Italia triumph this season.

The former Parma goalkeeper could make his 640th and final Serie A appearance against Hellas Verona on Sunday.

“There will never be another Gigi,” Buffon’s agent told Italian media.

Silvano Martina added: “I can’t add anything more because he will reveal what he’s going to do next to the press.”

Buffon is scheduled to appear in front of the media at 10:30 BST.

He is facing a Uefa ban for comments made about English referee Michael Oliver, who sent him off during the Champions League semi-final defeat by Real Madrid.

Buffon had said Oliver has “a bag of rubbish for a heart” and should “sit in the stands with your wife, your kids, having your drink and eating crisps”.

Italy’s most capped player with 176, Buffon could make his international farewell on 4 June in a friendly against the Netherlands.