The Italian veteran made his 903rd appearance for the Old Lady to eclipse his former national team defender
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon revelled in his record-breaking appearance after eclipsing Paolo Maldini for most games at club level.
Buffon – back in Turin after a season with Paris Saint-Germain – made his 903rd appearance for Juventus in Saturday’s 2-0 Serie A win over SPAL to break Maldini’s appearance record.
The 41-year-old Buffon matched Maldini’s record in last week’s victory against Hellas Verona before returning to the bench for Tuesday’s trip to Brescia, however, the Juve star was back on the field for the visit of SPAL.
After surpassing fellow Italian great Maldini, Buffon told reporters: “It’s a great satisfaction, I wasn’t aware I was so close to this record two games ago, I found out at the last game. I was told I had reached Paolo [Maldini].
Immenso.
Quella di oggi è stata la presenza numero 903 per @gianluigibuffon in carriera con i club in tutte le competizioni, superato Paolo Maldini (902). #SUPERG1G1 #JuveSPAL pic.twitter.com/d8eINpRjK9— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) September 28, 2019
“It makes me very happy and very proud, proud for what I did, but as I said to your colleagues, I am happy because I got here not dragging myself, but as a high-level player. That’s what I think I can say without being presumptuous.
“Therefore I also added, earlier on, that I will always thank my parents and my wife, which has been benevolent with me, but I can also say that there’s something of my own in all this.”
Buffon returned to Juve during the close season after a one-year spell at Ligue 1 champions PSG, having also previously represented Parma.
#emozionepura #pureemotion #FinoAllaFine #FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/EgrrzoJDUl
— Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon) September 28, 2019
Unlike Maldini, who spent his entire career with Serie A rivals AC Milan, Buffon’s appearances have been spread across three clubs.
He played 220 matches for Parma at the start of his career, was used 25 times in a largely underwhelming campaign with PSG last time out and has now featured 658 times for Juventus.
Buffon has won an incredible nine Serie A titles with the Old Lady, while also lifting the Coppa Italia five times, including once with Parma.
He also won a Ligue 1 title with PSG in 2018-19, during his only season outside of Italy.
However the Champions League is a trophy that has eluded the veteran goalkeeper, having lost in the final on three occasions – in 2003, 2015 and 2017.
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