Buffon Reveals Shocking Truth Behind Serie A’s Role in Shaping Football Careers

Serie A used to be the destination for top-tier talent, but these days? It’s morphing into something quite different — a launchpad for players aiming to make a splash on bigger stages abroad. Just look at Liverpool’s Giovanni Leoni; he’s the freshest Italian to headline that exodus to the Premier League, following in the footsteps of names like Sandro Tonali, Riccardo Calafiori, and Federico Chiesa. And don’t forget about Gianluigi Donnarumma, who’s caught the eye of Manchester City, while Giacomo Raspadori and Mateo Retegui have set their sights on LaLiga and the Saudi Pro League respectively. Gianluigi Buffon — a legend himself and now at the helm of an Italian football federation delegation — sees these moves not as a blow to Serie A’s prestige but rather as a sign of evolution. The league may not command the same power it once did, but that shift might actually serve Italy’s national team well by spreading its star power far and wide. The landscape is changing, and so must the way we evaluate it… LEARN MORE.

Gianluigi Buffon believes Serie A has become a “stepping stone” for players before they move to other leagues.

Liverpool’s Giovanni Leoni became the latest Italian player to move to the Premier League, joining the likes of Sandro Tonali, Riccardo Calafiori and Federico Chiesa.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has also been linked with a move to Manchester City this summer, while attackers Giacomo Raspadori and Mateo Retegui – who started Italy’s most recent World Cup qualifier against Moldova – have moved to LaLiga and the Saudi Pro League respectively.

Buffon, who is now the head of a delegation of the Italian football federation, believes it is a positive sign to see players move abroad, as Serie A is not the powerhouse it once was.

Calafiori is cooking for @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/HWNLJh34Gc

— Italy (@Azzurri_En) August 24, 2025

“Today’s football has changed, and our evaluations must change as a result, too,” Buffon told Tutto Mercato.

“Serie A is no longer the reference point it was in the past, but we’ve become a stepping stone in relation to other leagues where players can really ‘arrive’.

“I think it’s a positive, because if you have six or seven players who play for the best teams in the world, it means that your national team will be at an increasingly higher level.”

Italy have upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel, with the Azzurri third in Group I after a 3-0 defeat to Norway in June.

Donnarumma has not featured in a match since Paris Saint-Germain’s Club World Cup final defeat to Chelsea in July, but Buffon insisted he is still an important part of Gennaro Gattuso’s squad.

“I’m waiting to see Gigio and talk to him in-person,” the former World Cup winner added. “I know the coach has already heard from him several times, and they know what his future could look like depending on his choices.

“Apart from this specific moment, Donnarumma represents – and will always represent – a strength for the national team.”