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<p>Insights from Italy</p>
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<img alt="Meet Louis Buffon: Son of Gianluigi, who scored two hat-tricks for the Czech Republic" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/buffon-spot-1763560011-183185.png" title="Meet Louis Buffon: Son of Gianluigi, who scored two hat-tricks for the Czech Republic">
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<p>Following in the footsteps of a legendary father is no easy task, but Louis Buffon is making his mark early in his career. His father, Gianluigi Buffon, is celebrated as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history and a titan of Italian football, holding the record for the most appearances for Italy at 176 caps. However, Louis has chosen to represent the Czech Republic at youth level, influenced by his mother, Alena Seredova, who hails from the Central European country.</p>
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<p>The primary motivation behind his choice was the belief that he would have greater opportunities with the Czech national team. Reflecting on his decision, Buffon shared: "My mother was of course very happy, and my father was also excited for me; it was my first call-up to the national team. He advised me to pursue this path as it would allow me to develop optimally as a player." The 17-year-old has certainly made a name for himself during the international break, scoring two hat-tricks for the Czech Republic's U19 team, further enhancing his growing reputation.</p>
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<h2>Who is Louis Buffon? The son of the legendary Gianluigi</h2>
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<p>Born in Italy, the young forward briefly trained at Juventus’ youth academy before moving to his current club, Pisa. Last season, he excelled in the Primavera 2, netting eight goals in 28 matches. He made his professional debut against Torino in September—the city of his birth—and his Serie A debut came in October, with more opportunities expected in the near future. However, it was during the international fixtures that Buffon truly made headlines, achieving two hat-tricks in three matches. He earned the match ball against Azerbaijan and followed it up with another hat-trick in a game against Northern Ireland, after a brief appearance against Malta in between.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/buffon-stats-1763560064-183187.png?lm=1763560071">
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<p>The graphic above highlights that Buffon is currently among the top scorers in the U19 European Championship qualifiers and has served as captain for the Czech youth team. To gain further insight into the promising young attacker, we spoke with Aniello Luciano, an Italian football expert at Transfermarkt. "Although he is the son of a football icon, Buffon junior remains relatively unknown despite his recent professional appearances," says Luciano. "However, his performances in the Primavera 2 league last season, along with his current accomplishments with the national team, have garnered more attention. He is a versatile striker, capable of playing centrally or on the wing, as well as contributing to build-up play like a playmaker. Buffon possesses agility, strength, and a calm demeanor in front of goal."</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/buffon-quote-1763560035-183186.png?lm=1763560047">
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<h2>Will Buffon follow in his father's footsteps with Italy?</h2>
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<p>The decision of Buffon to represent the Czech Republic at the youth level has sparked interest among football enthusiasts. Undoubtedly, it has proven to be the right choice, as he has been granted more chances, including a match against Italy's U19 team that ended in a 2-1 defeat in September. However, with his father being regarded as one of Italy's football greats, Buffon may face a challenging decision in the future, should his career continue on this promising path. "This choice isn’t final, as FIFA regulations allow him to change his allegiance," Luciano explained. "Much will depend on his development and whether Italy considers him in the future, depending on how he fulfills his potential."</p>
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