Past and present, together. Two big names in Azzurri history, together counting 230 games for the National team, a World Cup and a Euro trophy, sat down together this morning as part of ‘Azzurri live’, a live stream broadcast on the FIGC’s Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, X, and TikTok channels. 

Gianluigi Buffon, the Head of the Delegation with the senior National team, the record holder for appearances with Italy (176) with a World Cup win to his name, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, the protagonist of Italy’s Euro 2021 victory and winner of player of the competition, with 54 total appearances for the National team, sat down together with Federico Mosca and Barbara Cirillo for the live stream on the FIGC’s social media channels.

“I remember my debut in Moscow well, even if the climate didn’t help…” started Buffon, recounting the first time that he stood in Italy’s goal in the game against Russia on 29 October 1997, part of a qualifier for France ‘98. He smiled at the memory, reliving the cold and snowy conditions of the match. Almost 26 years later, Buffon will debut in his new Azzurri role as Head of the Delegation in Skopje on Saturday evening: “I will live the game like I always do, with great involvement, like whenever I am part of a project or something that draws me in. It’s clear that I can’t feel a strong emotion. Yes, I’ve been a gladiator in the arena for many years, and now being the spectator of gladiators I will inevitably live the match with a different intensity. But I will try equally beautiful things. My choice to stop playing football? I made this decision because I was full of playing on the pitch. I am very happy with the choice I made”.

Whilst Gigi spoke, Gigio admired him: “Seeing Buffon play”, commented Donnarumma during ‘Azzurri live’, “I learned everything, from technique to how to act in goal. Gigi has been the number 1 in every way”. 

Then he commented on the Azzurri’s next match, the first under Spalletti: “Saturday’s match will not be a revenge mission, because we have to think about ourselves first and foremost. It will be a delicate game: we all remember what happened in Palermo” underlined Donnarumma, who still keeps Trajovski’s goal that kept Italy from the Qatar World Cup in mind. “Both Gigi and I were there in 2016 when we won 3-2 in Skopje and we know it won’t be easy. Spalletti? Before now I didn’t know the coach personally, but we all know what he did over the last years and last season with Napoli. We will definitely have a great journey together. We are happy, we are optimistic”.