Italy and Juventus goalkeeper and captain, Gianluigi Buffon, posted an emotional poem on his personal Twitter account about the goal that he has spent his entire playing career defending.
This past weekend, the legendary ‘keeper broke the Italian league record for longest streak without conceding, managing 974 consecutive minutes before finally being beaten by a penalty.
Having spent 20 seasons guarding the goal of Juventus, Parma and the Italian national team, the 38-year-old’s open letter reflected on his relationship with the net:
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So if your Italian isn’t perfect, the sports journalist James Horncastle helped translate it into English:
“I was 12-years-old when I turned my back on you,
I denied my past to guarantee you a secure future. A choice of the heart, a choice of instinct. From the day I stopped looking at your face though, I began to love you. To protect you. To be your first and last line of defence.
I promised myself I’d do everything not to see your face, or as much as I could. Every time I did was painful, having to turn round and realise I’d let you down.
We’re always opposite and complementary, like the moon and the sun, forced to live together while never being able to touch. Teammates for life who are denied contact.
Over 25 years ago I cast my vote, I swore to protect and guard you, to shield you against your enemies.
I always thought about your wellbeing, over and above my own. Every time I turned to look at you I tried to bear your disappointed expression head-on, while always consciously feeling guilty.
I was 12 when I turned my back on the goal, and I’ll continue to do so as long as my legs, my head and my heart hold out.”