Buffon would welcome Szczesny at Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon isn't one to shy away from a challenge.

Juventus has had the luxury of calling on the veteran 'keeper for over 15 years without worrying about life after Buffon.

But, as the Italian creeps toward 40 and talks of retirement persist, Juve has reportedly been keeping tabs on the goalkeeper market after being linked with a move for Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny, as well as Buffon's international teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma of AC Milan.

Yet, for a player who rarely has to glance at the team sheet ahead of matches to confirm he's starting, Buffon is more than open to the idea of adding another shot-stopper, who's eager to usurp him as Juve's No. 1, and insisted he would be comfortable walking away from the game as long as the goalkeeping duties are in safe hands.

"This could be the last year and I would like to be a protagonist, as I have always dreamed of being," Buffon told reporters, as translated by James Benge of the Evening Standard. "To do that, I have to be important. I will work for this next year.

"I've always been a rational person and I've always looked for the meaning of things. It's right that Juve want Szczesny and that there is a good player like Donnarumma at the national team.

"For me, it will be a great motivation twice because, although I am 39-40 years, I have to maintain my place. If I no longer want to play, I'll stay at home because Donnarumma and Szczesny are good goalkeepers by merit, not because someone gave them something."

A report earlier this month suggested Arsenal and Juventus reached an agreement worth €16 million for the Polish international, who has spent the last two years on loan in Italy with Roma.

Meanwhile, Buffon, who turns 40 in January, has talked hanging up his boots following the 2018 World Cup.