The son of goalkeeper legend Gianluigi Buffon does not initially play for the land of his prominent father. The choice is not irreversible.
Louis Thomas Buffon, son of Italy’s goalkeeper legend Gianluigi Buffon, sees his future in the Czech national team. “I spoke to my family and we came to the conclusion that it is the best for my football career and development to play for the Czech Republic,” said the 17-year-old in an interview with the Czech Football Association (FACR).
It is to be integrated into the U18 and is currently with the team in the training camp in Prague. “My mother was of course very happy, but my father was also excited because it was my first nomination for the national team,” said Buffon: “He also advised me to develop as a player there best.”
Even if he debut for the Czech Republic, the young Buffon has the right to move to Italy afterwards. Players are allowed to change the national team until they have played an official game with the A national team.
Son of goalkeeper legend has the Czech passport
Since Louis Buffon has both an Italian and a Czech passport, he can choose which national team he wants to play for. Buffon’s mother is the Czech ex-model Alena Seredova. Gianluigi Buffon and Seredova married in 2011, and the couple has lived separately since 2014.
Buffon had taken part in a course for the election of young talent in February, and at the beginning of March he debut for Pisa SC in series B. On Friday there could be a premiere in the Czech jersey against England’s U18.
However, he still had to struggle with the language. “I don’t speak Czech really well, but when I found out that I could come here, I started learning,” he said: “I spend about ten minutes on Duolingo (language learning app, editor’s note).”
Unlike his father, Buffon Junior is not in goal, but is hunting goals as an offensive player. In the second highest youth league in Italy, Buffon scored six goals for Pisa this season in 20 games.