Never in doubt for Matteo.
The Italian fullback has seen David De Gea up close and personal during his first year with Manchester United. The Spanish goalkeeper won United’s player of the year accolade for the third season on the spin while Darmian started brightly and flitted thereafter.
He has played 24 times for the Italian senior team, since his 2014 debut, and most of them have been in front of Gigi Buffon.
Darmian may have played for Torino in the past, but he is in awe of the 38-year-old Juventus stopper and Italian legend. After his classy gesture on Wednesday night, Buffon is a legend in Ireland too:
Watch: Gianluigi Buffon shows incredible class by congratulating Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane https://t.co/kDZYqWELPJ
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 22, 2016
Ahead of Italy’s second round clash with reigning champions Spain, Darmian was asked who was a better goalkeeper, Buffon or De Gea. He didn’t flinch. Darmian commented:
“It’s great to play against David, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Of course, it will be difficult to score, but we also have a great goalkeeper.
“They are two of the best goalkeepers in the world and, yes, there are similarities between David and Gigi, for sure.
“But I think that Gianluigi Buffon is the best goalkeeper of all time. For me as a defender I feel very lucky to play with them.”
Darmian will be hoping to get lucky and start for Italy again this weekend. He has, so far, featured in two of Italy’s Euro 2016 games while Buffon will definitely replace Salvatore Sirigu.
As for Southampton and Italy striker Graziano Pelle, he described De Gea as ‘a good goalkeeper’.
Italy won’t be pumping anyone’s tyres for free.
