Buffon back in training

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon returned to training with Juventus yesterday following almost six months out with a back injury.

Buffon started Italy’s first World Cup match in South Africa in June but was substituted after suffering a herniated disc. He underwent surgery four months ago.

The 32-year-old, the undisputed Italy number one before his injury, arrived at Juve’s Vinovo training ground yesterday morning and did some exercises on his own with one of the club’s coaches, Ansa reported.

The rest of the squad reported for training in the afternoon.

Buffon has 102 caps for Italy and was part of the 2006 World Cup winning team. He joined Juventus in 2001 from Parma where he won the UEFA Cup and Italian Cup in 1999.

At Juve he went on to claim two league titles, a Serie B crown and play in a Champions League final, while he was also part of the side that was stripped of the Serie A titles in 2005 and 2006 after the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal.

He has been named best goalkeeper in Serie A eight times.

Ansa claims he will be fit to make his first team return in January.