Gianluigi Buffon staying put with new Juventus side
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has rubbished claims that he will leave the Italian team, adding that he hopes to return from injury in January 2011 to help his team climb the Serie A table.
After unloading a core of experienced players this summer, including midfielder Mauro Camoranesi and striker David Trezeguet among others, manager Luigi Delneri is in the process of forging a new generation of players at Juventus.
He is aided by the presence of veteran striker Alessandro Del Piero and also will relish Buffon once he returns from injury.
"A strong team is being born, things are always getting better, we are on the right track," Buffon told
Tuttosport about his club's improving form.
Helped by the arrival of on-loan striker Fabio Quagliarella, who has scored five goals in the Serie A this season, and the leadership of Del Piero and Mohamed Sissoko, Juventus have advanced to fourth in the table with 18 points, only four behind leaders
SS Lazio.
Exit rumours untrue
Having been sidelined throughout the start of the season and missed the team photograph last week, speculation arose over whether Buffon is considering joining Manchester United in the Premier League.
But the keeper, who has been linked with many clubs since his arrival at Juventus in 2001, said he is going nowhere.
"Manchester United? I am used to living with these rumours, people have been speaking about this for six years now, but nothing has happened."
Buffon had to be replaced at half-time due to a sciatic nerve problem during Italy's 1–1 draw with Paraguay at the World Cup on 14 June, and has yet to recover from the injury.
Despite his prolonged absence, the 32-year-old said there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
"When will I be back? Everything is going as we had imagined, and so I should return in January."
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