Juventus have named their ideal replacement to the retiring Gianluigi Buffon as Wojciech Szczesny, ending speculation linking the club to AC Milan starlet Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Szczesny, 28, has been on periphery of first-team action since signing from Arsenal last season, but with Juve legend Buffon hanging up his boots this summer, the Polish shot-stopper is in line to succeed his 40-year-old counterpart.
As question marks were raised over Szczesny’s ability to step in for the prodigious figure of Buffon and have a similar impact between the sticks, teenage prodigy Donnarumma was identified as a possible replacement for the veteran gloveman.
Donnarumma endured a forgetful night when his side locked horns with the Turin club last week in the Coppa Italia final, as Juventus humbled the Rossoneri 4-0, with Donnarumma himself making a number of notable mistakes.
Juve chief executive Giuseppe Marotta took time to end rumours that the club are looking to spend big on a new goalkeeper this summer.
“We are focusing on Szczesny, who will be the starter after Buffon. Beyond the profile and the talent [Donnarumma] has, we are not interested,” Marotta told Radio Uno (via Goal).
He continued: “Preziosi is a skilful president. He has created competition among us, Napoli and other teams.
“Our intention is to have two great goalkeepers, because with our commitments you cannot have two players of different quality.”
Buffon set for Juventus talks over post-playing career
After an illustrious 17 years with the Old Lady, 655 appearances across all competitions, 11 Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia trophies, five Supercoppa Italiana triumphs and one Serie B title, Buffon is set to wave goodbye this weekend, and Marotta believes the club are losing a leader as a result.
“He’s a leader, he has a great sense of belonging and can convey great emotion. In the next few days he will meet with president [Andrea] Agnelli to evaluate the future.”
