Buffon extends Juve contract until 2012

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has extended his contract until 2012, the Italian club said yesterday.

The Italy number one had considered leaving despite Juve recently securing promotion back to Serie A following their demotion last year for match-fixing.

But having stuck with the club for a season in the second division, Buffon has opted to stay following the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as coach.

"An important day for me, because I have written a new page in my career and life," Buffon said in a statement.

Milan were linked in the Italian press with a possible approach for Buffon but club bosses at the San Siro were quick to say they were happy with Brazilian Dida.

"We have achieved another important result, as keeping Buffon was one of the key points of our plans," the club's general manager Jean-Claude Blanc said.