Buffon close to contract renewal with Juventus

Jan 3, 2013 12:56:00 PM

Both club and player continue to dispute the length of the deal, but an agreement is expected to be reached between both parties in the near future

EXCLUSIVE
By Romeo Agresti

Gianluigi Buffon is close to agreeing a new contract with Juventus, Goal.com understands.

The 34-year-old has been in discussions with the Old Lady for some weeks over an extension to his current deal, with the player admitting his desire to end his career with the Scudetto champions.

However, negotiations began to falter over the length of the renewal, with the Italy international keen to sign a short-term contract in order to avoid resting on his laurels and risk becoming "a normal goalkeeper".

The club, meanwhile, are keen to tie him down for a more lengthy period, with Giuseppe Marotta having proposed a renewal until at least 2015, with a basic salary of €3.5 million per season plus bonuses.

Despite the disagreements, Goal.com understands that both parties are keen to extend the deal, which is set to expire at the end of the season, and a breakthrough in negotiations could happen as early as January.

AS Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri was reportedly interested in signing the veteran keeper, but Buffon has made it clear he intends to see out his career with the club he joined back in 2001, and is therefore expected to put pen-to-paper on a new deal soon.

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