Juventus legend recalls 2015 UCL final defeat against Barcelona and special moment with Messi – ‘Cried with my wife’ | OneFootball

Gianluigi Buffon, widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history, recently took the opportunity to share a personal memory from the 2015 UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona.

Buffon recalled the emotional aftermath of the match, explaining how deeply the defeat affected him. He described returning home in a daze, overwhelmed by the disappointment of losing such a crucial final.

In the early hours of the morning, he and his wife, Ilaria, sat together in silence, unable to hold back their emotions. The pain of losing on such a grand stage was immense, but he acknowledged that defeats often lead to self-reflection and growth.

“It was 5.30 and my wife Ilaria and I cried hugging each other. After Berlin, I went home. You are stunned by the defeat, like after a drunken night out,” he began saying.

“I stay in the living room, she gets changed and we don’t say a word to each other. We hug each other and cry for 5 minutes and then go to bed.”

Facing the famed MSN

Buffon remembered the UCL defeat to Barcelona. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

That night in Berlin marked a significant chapter in Buffon’s career. Barcelona, powered by the formidable attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, secured their fifth Champions League title, leaving Juventus heartbroken.

Despite the disappointment, Buffon took pride in his performance that evening, especially at the age of 37. “I was filled with pride in the final in Berlin and I was 37 years old.”

One moment that stood out to him was his exchange with Messi. When the Argentine star requested his shirt, Buffon was filled with admiration, realising the magnitude of the occasion.

“When he asked me for the jersey I said to myself, ‘My God, how beautiful it is!’ One of the moments when I didn’t feel uncomfortable but I looked at myself with different eyes.”

He later reflected on how surreal it felt to swap jerseys with a player of Messi’s calibre. Though he cherished that memory, the pain of the loss lingered.

“At the end of the match, however, we had other problems, not knowing that a few years later we would have another chance in a final [2017 against Real Madrid],” he noted.

Connection with Barcelona

Messi asked for Buffon’s jersey. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Buffon also spoke about his long-standing connection with Barcelona. Earlier in his career, when he was still playing for Parma, he had the opportunity to join the Catalan club.

However, fate had different plans, as Juventus ultimately became his destination. At the time, he was just 23 years old and understood that such decisions were beyond his control.

“When I was 23 years old I had the maturity to understand that I couldn’t choose.”

He left the negotiations in the hands of his father and agent, trusting them to make the right choice for his future. Eventually, a fax confirmed his move to Juventus, a club that shared his ambition.

While both Barcelona and Roma had expressed interest, Buffon saw Juventus as the perfect fit, as they were eager to reclaim the Serie A title after years without success.

“Then I received a fax and the first clipping from Tuttosport where it said ‘We have the number 1’.

“Barcelona and Roma wanted me, but with Juve, we were at the same level of ambition: I had not yet won the Scudetto and they wanted to win it again after a few years of fasting,” he remembered.

Throughout his career, Buffon remained a symbol of excellence and resilience. Despite never lifting the Champions League trophy, he left an indelible mark on the sport, earning respect from teammates, opponents, and fans worldwide.

Source: Mundo Deportivo