Guillermo Ochoa: My dream is to play until I am Buffon's age
Mexico legend Guillermo Ochoa says Gianluigi Buffon is his biggest goalkeeping inspiration.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper recently joined Salernitana on a six-month deal with an option for a further two years.
In an interview with Sportweek,
Ochoaexplained why he decided to join Salernitana this month and revealed that he was close to joining Napoli in 2019.
“Because they were one of the first to look for me and I didn’t want to let too much time pass before playing again.
“And then because I grew up watching the Juve of Buffon and Del Piero, the Milan of Pirlo and Schevchenko… I’m a fan of Serie A.
“Already at Liege, between 2018 and 2019, I wanted to go there. Napoli wanted me, but my coach at Standard said no and Napoli signed Ospina.”
Ochoa, who has played in five separate
World Cups, also revealed some of his biggest goalkeeping inspirations.
“Obvious: Buffon. Other goalkeepers I admired in my youth were Casillas, Van der Sar, Taffarel, Schmeichel, Dida, Pagliuca, Toldo.”
Ochoa wants to play in the next World Cup in 2026 and beat the 44-year-old
Buffon’s longevity record.
“I feel strong, young and lucky not to have had any major injuries. I played ten years in Europe without a dual passport, it doesn’t seem little to me.
“So, I don’t think about time passing. My dream is to play until I am Gigi’s age.”
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