Gianluigi Buffon has admitted he would struggle to accept the situation Iker Casillas is going through at Real Madrid.
Casillas has struggled since the turn of the year to displace Diego Lopez between the sticks at Madrid and hinted last week that he may soon consider his future at the club as a result.
Ahead of this Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Juventus, which will see Casillas likely start in goal, his Bianconero counterpart has offered his view.
“I really admire Iker as for who I am, during the moment that I still feel a strong goalkeeper and among the best, it would be hard to accept certain situations. However, he has this merit and I respect that more,” the 35-year-old Italian considered to AS today.
“Why is he out of the team? I do not know what happened last year or this year [regarding Casillas]. I have just seen the line-ups.
“But I think that last year it was not just a technical issue, but relating to other things. I think it was a relationship problem.
“Is it now just a sporting decision then? I do not know. I can say that it is very unusual to see a goalkeeper like Casillas on the bench.
“But in the midst of this discourse we must also have respect for Diego Lopez, who in the end, apart from what he is doing this year, has always been an excellent goalkeeper. But I respect very much the reaction to Iker and he is still much greater for me.
“Iker has always proven to be a great champion and I think that great champions come out of these negative situations, by nature. That anger to return to playing, over time, it can be lost because you can appreciate things less. When these unexpected things happen, you get more power for when you do return.”
Buffon turned his attention to Spanish football’s increasing strength in recent years, beginning with considering if Barcelona have set a new benchmark in Europe.
“Yes, in the last seven or eight years, Barcelona has surpassed all European clubs in terms of popularity and prestige because, ultimately, the real difference and value in a club is shown in winning and Barcelona in recent years have won much.
“It is the same as with the legend of Madrid, from the 1950s when they won many European Cups. Spending and having lots of money does not mean that by force you can win.
“Therefore, projects are needed, patience, work, balance. Of course, having so much money is a good base in which to start, but that alone is not enough.
“Spanish football’s rise? It is due to a tactical and technical way of dealing with games completely differently, which has probably surprised everyone. In these years that have followed, few have managed to find the tactical changes or corrections to face Spain and hinder their game.
“One of the few teams that has done so has been Italy, who in facing Spain has seen them encounter a style of play difficult for their football.
“Just watch all the matches between Spain and Italy from 2008 to the European Championship Final, by which time we were physically exhausted.
“Are Spain the model to follow? What is certain is that they have changed the mindset of many Coaches, even the Italians because, in recent years, Coaches have improved tactically, with the method and identity for their team to play in. Much of the credit is down to Spain and Barcelona.”
