Gianluigi Buffon resigns after the dismissal of the president of FIGC.

Italy in shock: Gianluigi Buffon leaves after FIGC president’s dismissal – unprecedented crisis shakes Italian football!

In an unprecedented turbulent scenario in Italian football, heads continue to roll with full force. Hours after the surprising announcement of Gabriele Gravina’s resignation as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), living legend Gianluigi Buffon, World Champion in 2006 and until now the general director of the national team, also decided to walk away.

In a statement filled with emotion and sincerity, Buffon revealed on social media platform X the reasons that led him to make such a drastic decision. “Submitting my resignation one minute after the end of the match against Bosnia was an urgent act that came from the bottom of my soul. As spontaneous as the tears and that pain in my heart that I know I share with all of you,” confessed the iconic Italian goalkeeper, making clear the emotional weight he carries.

Buffon continued, explaining that after Gravina’s “step back,” he felt “free” to take the responsibility to leave. The main objective, he recalled, was simple and clear: “to bring Italy back to the World Cup.” However, that goal was not achieved, which weighed heavily on his decision. Despite this, the former Italian international emphasized the pride and passion he has always felt representing the Azzurri since a very young age.

“Despite the sincere conviction of having built a strong team spirit with Rino Gattuso and all the staff, in the short time spent with the national team, the main objective was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. And we did not manage to do that,” lamented Buffon, emphasizing his total commitment to the project while acknowledging that the time has come for change.

The former Italian football legend also highlighted the need for the FIGC to find a better successor for the position of general director, making it clear that he always tried to be “the link, the dialogue, and synergy” between the different levels of the national team, also relying on the collaboration of “important figures with vast experience.”

“It will be up to those in charge to judge the merit of these choices. I carry everything in my heart, with gratitude for the privilege and the learning that, even in this painful ending, this intense experience leaves me. Forza Azzurri, always,” concluded Buffon, in a message that mixes disappointment, honor, and hope.

The future of the Italian national team is now more uncertain than ever. Elections for the FIGC are scheduled for June 22, at a time when the Italian press is already pointing to Rino Gattuso, the national team coach, as a possible next victim following the third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Italian football is experiencing a deep crisis, with radical changes taking place at the top of the structure. The departure of Gravina and Buffon symbolizes the discontent and urgent need for a fresh start in one of the most historic nations in world football. The big question that remains is: who will be able to rescue the lost glory of the Azzurri?

This article first appeared on Apito Final.