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Buffon ‘sorry’ for Inter, Napoli after Champions League ouster

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Buffon retires as Italy lose World Cup ticket

Italy legend and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he is ‘sorry’ to see Serie A giants, Inter Milan and Napoli go out of the UEFA Champions League.

Inter failed to beat PSV at the San Siro, allowing Tottenham Hotspur, who fought back to hold Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou, to advance to the last 16.

On their part, Napoli, who needed to avoid defeat or at least a 2-1 or 3-2 scoreline, fell to a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield and crashed out of the campaign.

The Italian Serie A will now have only Juventus and Roma in the last 16, prompting Buffon to sympathise with the pair ‘out of patriotic pride’.

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“I’m sorry for both teams,” the former Juventus goalie told Sky Sport Italia after PSG’s 4-1 win at Red Star Belgrade.

“I’m sorry because Napoli were on a beautiful run and the leading lights in our group, while Inter only needed to beat PSV.

“I’m also sorry because, perhaps, I’d have had more chances of going back to play in Italy, in the Champions League, if Inter and Napoli went through.

“That’s because both would’ve finished second in their groups, while we’d have gone through in first.

“A step back for our football? No, but it’s a shame and disappointing. I say that out of patriotic pride.”

 

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