Barcelona's Croatian international Ivan Rakitic said Tuesday he would love to tell Italian goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon to take his place in the 2018 World Cup.
Rakitic will meet Buffon in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Juventus in Turin, just a week after Buffon tearfully retired from international duty as Italy crashed out the World Cup.
"I feel like telling Buffon to go in my place, as what he's done for football is uncredible, simply unique," said midfielder Rakitic when asked why Italy failed to advance from their World Cup play-off against Sweden while Croatia eliminated Greece.
Buffon, 39, later replied on Twitter.
"Dear Ivan, as a goalkeeper I might still play but playing for Croatia as a midfielder in your place might not be a great idea: Joking apart, your words have been a great gift."
Buffon - who earned a record 175 caps for Italy over 20 years - had been targeting a record sixth World Cup appearance in Russia. He announced his international retirement after the 1-0 play-off defeat which saw Italy miss the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
Playing likely his final season with Juventus, Buffon has one final ambition: to win the Champions League, after finishing runner-up twice in the past three years.
AFP/Turin
Rakitic will meet Buffon in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Juventus in Turin, just a week after Buffon tearfully retired from international duty as Italy crashed out the World Cup.
"I feel like telling Buffon to go in my place, as what he's done for football is uncredible, simply unique," said midfielder Rakitic when asked why Italy failed to advance from their World Cup play-off against Sweden while Croatia eliminated Greece.
Buffon, 39, later replied on Twitter.
"Dear Ivan, as a goalkeeper I might still play but playing for Croatia as a midfielder in your place might not be a great idea: Joking apart, your words have been a great gift."
Buffon - who earned a record 175 caps for Italy over 20 years - had been targeting a record sixth World Cup appearance in Russia. He announced his international retirement after the 1-0 play-off defeat which saw Italy miss the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
Playing likely his final season with Juventus, Buffon has one final ambition: to win the Champions League, after finishing runner-up twice in the past three years.
AFP/Turin
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