Italy goalkeeper Buffon needs knee surgery
Second injury blow for Juve after Marchisio
Gianluigi Buffon needs knee surgery in the coming months, the Italy and Juventus goalkeeper said yesterday.
"My knee is wrecked. I need an operation. I'll carry on as long as I can," Buffon told reporters as Italy arrived back in the country following their 2-2 draw in Ireland on Saturday which secured their place at next year's World Cup.
The 31-year-old, back to his best form after a year of injury niggles, said he would try to put off the operation until after Juve's Serie A game with champions Inter in early December. That scudetto showdown on Saturday, December 5 is the cut-off point and, if he can continue that long, Buffon will go under the knife straight after the match.
It will mean missing at least three Serie A games, but far less than usual because he will have the entire Christmas break to recover.
Juventus naturally hope their goalkeeper will be back in action in time for another crunch match against Milan on January 10. Buffon was beset by injuries last season, most notably muscular and back problems.
This is the second heavy blow for the Bianconeri, as midfielder Claudio Marchisio underwent a meniscus operation last weekend.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury to his right knee during Juve's 2-0 defeat at Palermo on October 4 and was forced to pull out of the Italy squad ahead of the remaining World Cup qualifiers.
Marchisio, who will be out for six weeks, has had a stunning start to the season following his debut for Italy on August 12.