Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon has said he would have been annoyed if he’d gone through the same situation Iker Casillas had to at Real Madrid.
The Los Blancos captain has returned to the first team this season having spent 18 months largely out in the cold. Ex-Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who has failed to win a trophy in more than two years despite believing he’s something special, dropped the keeper when he signed Diego Lopez.
Carlo Ancelotti stuck with Lopez in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, playing Casillas in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
Speaking to AS on Thursday, Buffon said he would have been angry if he’d been dropped in the way Casillas had been, particularly having enjoyed the success he’s had for both club and country.
“Everyone is different, but I know that his situation would have frustrated me,” he stated. “I was very surprised by it. It’s difficult to think that he can be disputed or left out of matches. I don’t know if I agree with goalkeeping rotation, I feel it penalises you. When I feel good I prefer to play every game.
“Of course, the results can give reason to the Coach, but it’s likely that it becomes a trend which risks being copied by many. However, a team of Madrid’s calibre play about 60 games a year, so it won’t be a problem if they rest their No 1 sporadically,” he continued.
And he added:”He’s a good guy who I like talking to when we’re on the pitch. He has been and remains a great goalkeeper. What I like most about him is the consistency he’s had in his career, being decisive on so many occasions. Technically he’s flawless. When you play so long for Madrid and your country, you have to be.”
Holla madara