Buffon signs new Juve deal

Long-serving Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has signed a two-year contract extension with the Italian champions. The 34-year-old, who joined Juve from Parma in 2001 for a fee of €55m, has made over 500 appearances in all competitions for the Bianconeri. Towards the end of last year Buffon admitted he was considering the offer of a one-year extension with his Juve contract due to expire in June. But it emerged today that the offer had been increased by the club, and Buffon was delighted to extend his stay at the Juventus Stadium until June 2015. He told juventus.com: "When I arrived at Juve my only concern was whether or not I could cut it at this level. I hope to play for as long as I'm able and I'm ready to give my all. We'd originally talked about a one-year renewal but Juve made the counter-offer of a two-year deal." He hasn't won a Ballon d'Or yet, but I hope he will do so in the next two years Andrea Agnelli, Juventus club president on Gianluigi Buffon Buffon has won Serie A five times with the Turin giants - despite the 2005 and 2006 titles being revoked - as well as lifting the FIFA World Cup™ with Italy in 2006 and finishing as a UEFA Champions League runner-up to AC Milan in 2003. When asked about his favourite save from an 18-year career, he joked: "The next one. I'm hoping I don't have to make many. But the best I've made up to now was the one against Zidane in the World Cup final." Club president Andrea Agnelli also paid tribute to Buffon while backing him to become only the second goalkeeper to win the coveted Ballon d'Or, before he retires. "Buffon is tied to us for another two years, until June 2015," Agnelli said. "He's already among the best and greatest names in the history of Juventus. I like remembering the five titles he won on the pitch, and the World Cup, but what sets him apart is his honesty and his leadership. "He hasn't won a Ballon d'Or yet, only (Russian goalkeeper Lev) Yashin has done that, but I hope he will do so in the next two years. And no, I never worried about losing Gigi." From FIFA