Alphonse Areola in friendly competition with Gianluigi Buffon | OneFootball

With legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon coming to Parc des Princes, questions swirled over the summer about the future of Alphonse Areola.

Areola has recently talked about how first-year PSG manager Thomas Tuchel convinced him to stay and fight for his playing time in the French capital.

The Paris-native spoke to beINSports about competing against Buffon for the starting spot between the sticks.

“We talked before the World Cup when Gigi (Buffon) was not there, and the coach made me understand that I’m in the lead right now,” the 25-year-old described. “He said it was up to me to work hard and earn this place.”

Shortly thereafter, Buffon joined the Parisian club on a free transfer after leaving Juventus.

“We had a conversation with Gigi, the coach and goalkeeper coach Gianluca Spinelli, and we set a compromise where Gigi and I can play regularly and help the team,” said Areola.

Through the team’s eight successful Ligue 1 contests so far this season, the longtime Italy national team starter and the current back-up to the French national side have shared goalkeeping duties.

The victim of Buffon’s arrival, however, was German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. After three seasons in Paris, the 28-year-old returned to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on-loan in August.

Tuchel has spoken of PSG’s upcoming opponents in positive terms, especially after Olympique Lyonnais performed against Manchester City and Marseille. The German warned his players to take Lyon as seriously as they would a Champions League opponent.

Whichever goalkeeper Tuchel selects to start on Sunday against Lyon, either Buffon or Areola will seek to continue PSG’s winning streak to nine league matches, breaking the record set by Olympique Lillois during the 1936-37 season.