Juve chief Bettega: Buffon is untouchable

(GSM) – Juventus director Roberto Bettega has once again insisted they won’t sell Gianluigi Buffon by claiming the goalkeeper ‘is untouchable’.

There were reports in newspapers around Europe that Buffon would be sacrificed to raise funds for the transfer campaign if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Manchester City was heavily linked with the Italy international but Bettega has dismissed these reports by stating that they won’t sell Buffon even if City offer £32million.

“The squad will not let itself get distracted by this sort of thing,” assured Bettega on the official club website.

“As for what was written in the papers about an alleged Buffon sale, I want to tell the fans that Gigi is untouchable. He will remain at Juventus.”

Juve go into a pre-match training camp this evening to prepare for Thursday night’s trip to Napoli.

“I am confident that we will soon be able to prove what we had done until recently,” added Bettega. “Aside from Mohamed Sissoko, to whom we give our sincerest condolences, all the players are in the hotel and very concentrated on the game.”

Sissoko flew out to Paris this morning after news of a family bereavement and is not expected to take part in Thursday’s match.