Buffon: Balotelli would be a hit at Juve

Posted Monday, May 28, 2012 by ESPN

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes his international team-mate Mario Balotelli would be a fans' favourites if he were to move to the Juventus Stadium.

Balotelli, who previously played for Inter Milan, has spent the last two seasons playing for Manchester City after joining them for €22million in 2010, and is already regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the world.

Despite being capable of winning games off his own boot, the 21-year-old also has a combustible nature that has seen him get into several disciplinary problems throughout his relatively short career, but Buffon does not believe that will be much of a hindrance should Balotelli join the Bianconeri.

"Would Balotelli fit in at Juve? I see him doing well here as he would fit in with all the strongest teams in the world," the experienced custodian told Sky Sport Italia.

"He has potential and now we can say a little bit more than that, because he also proved in many occasions that he can decide a game.

"If Mario came to Juventus he'd certainly become an idol for the fans. He is one of those characters who are in certain ways denigrated - even hated - by opposition fans, but is idolised by his own supporters."

And considering how Buffon feels Balotelli could achieve iconic status at the club, perhaps signing him wouldn't be such a bad idea for the Bianconeri considering they recently said farewell to one of their all-time greats in Alessandro Del Piero, who has left the club after 19 seasons.

"We lose a lot without Alex [Del Piero]," Buffon added. "First of all, I am losing a friend and a companion.

"We were together for 11-12 years and they were full of incidents, good and less good. There is enormous disappointment to be saying goodbye, as more than ever this year he has shown how he helps the Juve cause.

"There was never a moment in which we heard him complain, as he always trained hard and set an example to the squad. In fact, he scored three or four goals that proved to be decisive."

Del Piero, who joined Juve from Padova back in 1993, had been captain of the Bianconeri since taking over in 2001 from Antonio Conte, a man who came back to the club at the start of this season and led them to the Serie A title as coach.

Buffon, who played alongside Conte during his playing days for both Juve and Italy, has no doubts the 42-year-old played a huge part in Juve going the league campaign unbeaten en route to their 30th Scudetto triumph.

"The coach has been put at the centre of the project with his beliefs and his knowledge of Juve," Buffon explained.

"In general, you can never tell quite how much a coach affects a team, but I can say with certainty that our tactician has made a huge impact, more than anyone else, on this campaign.

"It was possible because the team and club wanted to follow him."

Since joining the Bianconeri from Parma back in 2001, Buffon has almost 400 appearances for the club in all competition.