Buffon: I Became Depressed And Sad With Football

Arguably one of the world's best shot-stoppers, Buffon has been out injured recently but he is slowly making a steady return to action.

The Juve man has released his autobiography "Numero 1" wherein he talks about his rise in the game.

The Massa-Carrara-born player revealed there was a spell in his life five years ago where he became depressed and thought about quitting the game.

La Stampa have published an extract from the book and it reads: "I fell in depression and I had to be cured by a psychologist.

"Fame and money? There were thousands of reasons. This then becomes the norm. Maybe one realises he couldn't find the right woman or you don't win the Champions League.

"I went away for two months to receive treatment and to cure the depression.

"Every time you miss a save then this thing seems to recall you but you can't go away every three months to cure it.

"I don't have any regrets at all. I arrived in football when I was just 17. If I said I was satisfied I would be a fool but I don't feel anything was ever my fault.

"Maybe my youth as I would have liked to have lived in the ways I wanted."

Juventus welcome Genoa to the Stadio Olimpico later tonight but Buffon will not be involved in the action.

Many will remember Juve losing out to Milan in the 2003 Champions League final on penalties where the goalkeeper was in between the sticks.

Salvatore Landolina