The legendary ‘keeper Gianluigi Buffon has had an illustrious career spanning over twenty years. In an exclusive interview, he speaks of the future, favourite memories throughout his career and that one regret he holds dear.

Buffon at thirty-seven years old still holds the number one spot for the Italian National Team and he believes he can carry on maintaining his position in such a highly regarded position even at his age, he still has that desire that burns deep insisting he will not settle for a reserve spot.

The former Parma and current Juventus keeper believes he can carry on playing at the top level for the foreseeable future and has his eyes firmly set on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“If I continue at this level physically and mentally, I can guarantee another two or three years at the top level,” Buffon told L’Equipe.

“I’m not a number two, I want to be a 40-year-old who is still number one. I want to experience my remaining years in the best way possible and demonstrate that even at 37 or 38 years old I am an important goalkeeper.

“If I told you I wasn’t thinking about the World Cup in Russia I would be lying, I’m used to setting myself big targets, even if with three years to go and at my age it’s asking a lot.”

Speaking to French newspaper L’Equipe, Buffon admitted his proudest moment and warmest memory of his career was beating France in the 2006 World Cup Final, in Germany.

“Winning the World Cup was something I’d dreamed of since I was a child,” he said.

“People still talk about my save against Zidane today - In the final everything is amplified and even a simple action can become legend.

“I’m honoured to be a part of the national team, I began in 1997 and after almost 20 years it makes me proud to still be a part of it and I still have the desire to continue.”

Even after 586 Serie A appearances, seven Serie A titles, nine Goalkeeper of the Year awards, one UEFA Cup and a number of other individual awards, Gianlugi Buffon – also known as Gigi – has one regret which he wished he could’ve done in his career.

“My one regret is to never have played in the Premier League, I would’ve liked to play in those stadiums and in that atmosphere where there seems to be great sportsmanship.

“I never left Italy because I always thought that the Italian championship was the most challenging and the greatest of all the leagues.

“Today we are in decline but everything goes in cycles. Yesterday it was Spain, today it’s England and maybe tomorrow it will be France.

“I had 10 years at Parma and have had 15 at Juventus – when you are happy in a team it doesn’t make sense to leave.”