Juventus will be missing one of the most iconic players in their history when they travel to Atlanta for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target later this month.
The Italian side officially bid farewell to legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on Friday, as the 40-year-old star joined French giants Paris St.-Germain on a free transfer. It means that the “Old Lady” will feature a new face in the nets for the first time since Buffon’s famous tenure in Turin began in 2001.
“Seventeen years in black-and-white officially conclude today,” wrote Buffon in a social-media post, “17 years of friends, companions, tears, victories, defeats, trophies, words, anger, disappointments, happiness and many, many emotions.”
The 12-time Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year and 2006 World Cup winner won a litany of league and cup championships with Juve, even sticking around after the relegation brought on by the Calciopoli scandal to lead the proud club back to the top flight, in the process becoming a global icon for both club and country.
Buffon’s departure opens the door for backups Wojciech Szczesny, Mattia Perin and Carlo Pinsoglio to compete for Juve’s starting job in the upcoming season.
