bad_meetz_evil
10-20-2006, 05:43 PM
Gianluigi Buffon's agent has moved to clarify the Italian keeper's link with Chelsea, stating the World Cup winner will not be leaving Juventus in January.
One of Buffon's representatives raised the possibility of the Juve shot-stopper moving to Stamford Bridge as a replacement for the injury-stricken Petr Cech in an interview with an English newspaper on Friday.
The Blues are currently contemplating bringing in a new keeper after the skull fracture sustained by the Czech Republic international, and Paolo Fabbri hinted that a deal could be in the offing with Buffon.
However another agent Silvano Martina has now moved to play down talk of an imminent Premiership move for the Italian international by insisting that Buffon has committed himself to the Bianconeri for the season despite their demotion to Serie B.
"Gianluigi's very happy at Juventus. He had lots of offers in Italy and elsewhere this summer and turned them down," said Martina.
"But he made a decision to stay in Turin because he wanted to repay the club for helping him become famous and being one of the best in the world.
"We will obviously be honoured if a club like Chelsea was to make an offer for Buffon but I can tell you that he will not leave Turin in January."
However Martina did open the door for Chelsea to bid for his client in the summer should they still feel the need to improve their goalkeeping options.
Whilst Juventus have made a quick-fire start to life in the second tier, winning five of their first six games, a failure to win an immediate return to Serie A could spark another player exodus.
As such Martina has conceded that Buffon's position will have to be reassessed in June, and, whilst The Blues have made no formal contact as yet, Roman Abramovich's billions could prove tough to turn down for The Bianconeri.
"We will obviously have to see what happens at the end of the season," admitted Martina.
"We obviously hope that Chelsea don't need Buffon because it would mean Cech has made a quick recovery.
"Officially there has been no contact so far.
"We are very saddened with what has happened to goalkeeper Cech.
"It's normal that a great club like Chelsea would show an interest or would be interested in one of the top goalkeepers in the world.
"If Chelsea were to make an offer it would be very difficult for any club to reject it."
Credit: Sky.
One of Buffon's representatives raised the possibility of the Juve shot-stopper moving to Stamford Bridge as a replacement for the injury-stricken Petr Cech in an interview with an English newspaper on Friday.
The Blues are currently contemplating bringing in a new keeper after the skull fracture sustained by the Czech Republic international, and Paolo Fabbri hinted that a deal could be in the offing with Buffon.
However another agent Silvano Martina has now moved to play down talk of an imminent Premiership move for the Italian international by insisting that Buffon has committed himself to the Bianconeri for the season despite their demotion to Serie B.
"Gianluigi's very happy at Juventus. He had lots of offers in Italy and elsewhere this summer and turned them down," said Martina.
"But he made a decision to stay in Turin because he wanted to repay the club for helping him become famous and being one of the best in the world.
"We will obviously be honoured if a club like Chelsea was to make an offer for Buffon but I can tell you that he will not leave Turin in January."
However Martina did open the door for Chelsea to bid for his client in the summer should they still feel the need to improve their goalkeeping options.
Whilst Juventus have made a quick-fire start to life in the second tier, winning five of their first six games, a failure to win an immediate return to Serie A could spark another player exodus.
As such Martina has conceded that Buffon's position will have to be reassessed in June, and, whilst The Blues have made no formal contact as yet, Roman Abramovich's billions could prove tough to turn down for The Bianconeri.
"We will obviously have to see what happens at the end of the season," admitted Martina.
"We obviously hope that Chelsea don't need Buffon because it would mean Cech has made a quick recovery.
"Officially there has been no contact so far.
"We are very saddened with what has happened to goalkeeper Cech.
"It's normal that a great club like Chelsea would show an interest or would be interested in one of the top goalkeepers in the world.
"If Chelsea were to make an offer it would be very difficult for any club to reject it."
Credit: Sky.