Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon feels that midfielder Andrea Pirlo still has a lot to offer to the national team in spite of a dip in form of late.
The legendary midfielder left the Bianconeri to join Major League Soccer side New York City this summer, ending a four-year long Juventus stay.
While the 36-year-old insists that the fear of being replaced in Turin made his decision to quit easier, his former team-mate insists that Pirlo is still as good as he has been over the years and cannot be replaced so easily.
Refuting criticism about the former AC Milan man looking ordinary during his side's Euro 2016 qualifier against Malta last week, which eventually led to him being dropped to the bench for the match against Bulgaria yesterday, the Juventus skipper added that every player knows when to call it a day and for Pirlo that time hasn't arrived yet.
"Every player knows when it's time to stop, but if you ask me Andrea still has plenty to offer", Buffon was quoted as saying by FIFA's official website.
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"He could even become crucial for us, as he always has been when games really matter and the ball is zipping around the field."
Pirlo has so far managed a total of 116 caps for Italy during his 13-year-long international career, scoring 13 goals.
