KEY POINTS

  • Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will leave Juventus at the season's end
  • The Italian icon had choice words for the club during his announcement
  • Juventus failed to capture its 10th Serie A title in a row

The unsurprising news broke out on Tuesday that legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon will not renew with Juventus.

The Italian football icon announced in an interview on BeinSports that he will leave the club by the end of the season while open to finding a "situation that motivates" him to play.

"My future is clear and defined. This beautiful and very long experience with Juve will come to a definitive end this year," Buffon said.

"Either I stop playing, or if I find a situation that motivates me to play or have a different life experience, I will take it into consideration."

Juventus failed to win the Serie A title, currently in a mediocre fifth-rank in the league table, ending a nine-year run as Italian champions.

The 43-year-old keeper hailed as one of the greatest ever had some interesting choice of words for his club.

“We lacked continuity. In the end, in the games we played against the top five, six teams, we often won. We drew sometimes and lost some," Buffon said.

“But it has always been even games. Instead, we lost stupid points against the lesser teams. This means you are a team that have yet to grow in character.”

The multi-awarded World Cup winner could be pointing to Juve's 3-0 loss to Fiorentina last December, as well as 1-0 setback to Benevento in March.

Andrea Pirlo's side also had nine draws.

Buffon made 683 appearances for Juventus, starring to help lead them to 21 trophies across all competitions in two decades representing the Italian powerhouse.

The most capped Italian player has won 10 Scudettos for them and reached the UEFA Champions League final three times.

Buffon could play his final match for Juventus on May 19 in the Coppa Italia final.

The keeper closed out by implying how either he or his club could have been the burden, an ultimately sad way of describing his permanent exit from the club.

“I feel I gave everything for Juve. I have received everything and more than this cannot be done. We have reached the end of a cycle and it’s right for one to remove the disturbance.”

Over 1,000 games for  Gianluigi Buffon
Over 1,000 games for Gianluigi Buffon AFP / Isabella BONOTTO