It was an evening full of emotion, memories and football insight at the event “My Name is Luca. Ballad for Vialli” — a tribute to Gianluca Vialli attended by some of the biggest names in Italian football, both past and present. Among them stood Gigi Buffon, the legendary former goalkeeper and now delegation chief of the Italian national team.
Buffon, naturally, spoke with heartfelt admiration for his former teammate and captain before turning his reflections toward Juventus, Serie A, and the national team.
“Vialli taught everyone to take things seriously”
“Luca leaves us with the lesson of doing everything seriously, just as he did,” Buffon said. “He was a footballer, a captain, a coach, a pundit — so many things. And in every role, he brought the same seriousness, dedication and credibility. That’s what took him to the top.”
Vialli’s professionalism and spirit, Buffon noted, remain a benchmark not only for Italian football but for anyone who had the privilege to know him. The evening served as both a remembrance and a celebration of that enduring legacy.
“I haven’t seen this kind of identity in Juventus for some time”
Turning to Juventus, Buffon expressed cautious optimism about the club’s current trajectory under Luciano Spalletti. “I’ve watched their recent games, including the one against Cagliari — a match that was hard to explain,” he admitted. “But it’s been a long time since I saw a Juve play with that attitude, that kind of identity, that hunger to press and attack the opponent. So I imagine — and I want to believe — that the first brick towards becoming a real force again has been laid.”
Despite the setback in Sardinia, Buffon insisted that signs of revival are clear, citing Spalletti’s dynamic approach as a key to restoring the swagger of past Juventus sides.
“The level of Serie A is truly high”
On the wider Serie A landscape, Buffon praised both the competitiveness and quality of the league this season. “At the top, there’s a real battle, and the level of both players and coaches is very high,” he said. That parity, in Buffon’s eyes, is precisely what pushes Italian football forward again after years of transition.
“Inter and Atalanta are best positioned, but Juve can go far”
Buffon also shared his view on Italian clubs in Europe. “At the moment, Inter and Atalanta are the best positioned and, broadly speaking, can be a bit more relaxed,” he explained. “For Juventus and Napoli, the situation is slightly different, but both have the potential to reach the play-offs even if they don’t qualify immediately. If they play two games at the level they’re capable of, they’ll go through. That’s what we all hope for, for the good of Italian football.”
“Gattuso’s commitment is total — he inspires us all”
Finally, Buffon spoke about the national team, which he continues to serve in a leadership capacity. His admiration for coach Gennaro Gattuso was evident. “Nothing is left to chance,” he said. “Gattuso does everything to stay close to the players, to support them. Amid all his effort and passion, he still finds the strength to inspire everyone around him, including us in management. I believe the foundations are there for us to reach the goals we’ve set for ourselves.”
