«Extended families? There was a time when I didn’t believe it. Now I understand that they are an enrichmentas long as you have generosity and patience.” Word of Gigi Buffonwhich last September 28th is got married with the journalist Ilaria D’Amicomother of his third child, Leopoldo Mattia. The other two, Thomas e David Lee, they were born from love with Alena Seredovahis first wife, now married to the manager Alessandro Rice. «I believe him made my children people better than they would have been if I had stayed at home with ours unhappiness», he states in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
«I’m happy that Alena have another familywith a daughter and a man at her side. Making her suffer and making our children suffer it gave me great pain», adds the former national team goalkeeper, who met his current wife just at the end of his relationship with the Czech model. «It was a story now coming to an end, crossed by one deep crisis». It all started with a «specious question» after the famous Milan-Juventus of 2012, when the Rossoneri did not have a goal validated. «He asked me if, if I realized that the ball had entered, I would have told the referee”.
«I have never been a hypocrite. I replied that I hadn’t noticed that the ball had gone in, but even if I had noticed I wouldn’t have told the referee. An uproar broke out». Shortly after, the meeting where love blossomed: «We found ourselves in a hospital, at a charity event. And I realized that the icy woman I saw on TV was in reality very sweet». Among other things he confessed to Antonio Conteat the time the coach of Juventuswho had fallen in love with Ilaria D’Amico. «He told me that a champion is with a champion», concludes Buffon, then shifting the focus to his career.
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It was November 19, 1995 when I was 17 years old he made his Serie A debut with the Parma shirt, precisely against Milan. «In the underpass I felt a pat on the shoulder, it was Paolo Maldini who encouraged me. He too had made his debut as a boy and he knew what he meantI have never forgotten that gesture.” A path full of successes, both in black and white and in blue, yet at a certain point in his head something got stuck. «I had just won two championships in a row: after the up, the down. The void opened up before me. I began to sleep badly, I went to bed and… I was getting anxious». Even on the pitch.
«I felt a pressure in my chest, I couldn’t breathe. When it happened to me I immediately thought I wouldn’t be able to play the match.” It was depressionwhich was diagnosed by the team doctor. «I refused the drugs. I needed it, but I was afraid of becoming dependent on it. From the psychotherapist I only went three or four times, but he gave me valuable advice: cultivate other interests, don’t focus entirely on football. It was then that I discovered painting: I went to the Modern Art Gallery in Turin, there was an exhibition of Chagall». There too, love at first sight: «The next day I went back to see her again».
Ah, Gigi Buffon! The man’s had more comebacks than a boomerang at a family reunion. Did you read that? He got hitched to Ilaria D’Amico, and they named their kid Leopoldo Mattia. It sounds like a name you’d give a future king, or perhaps a luxury car! Meanwhile, his other two kids, Thomas and David Lee—yes, you heard it right, the man’s got more heirs than a soap opera star—are from his first marriage to Alena Seredova. Talk about a family tree; this guy’s practically got a whole orchard!
Now, Gigi’s been waxing lyrical about extended families, saying, “as long as you have generosity and patience.” Mate, that’s all well and good, but you try squeezing all that into a dinner where the mashed potatoes turn into a food fight because someone’s second cousin decided to bring their emotional baggage!
And can we talk about his previous marriage? Buffon admits it was a ‘deep crisis.’ Deep? It was probably like the Mariana Trench of crises. He paints a candid picture, saying, “Making her suffer and making our children suffer… it gave me great pain.” And here I thought the only time Gigi’s face showed pain was when he had to stop a penalty kick!
Oh, and how did his love story with Ilaria begin? Well, it started with a “specious question” during a notorious Milan-Juventus match. You remember it, right? A goal that wasn’t validated, and instead of calling the referee, he ended up changing his entire personal life! Perhaps next time he should just stick to using Google for relationship advice and avoid giving his opinion on football!
But let’s not shy away from the serious bits, shall we? Buffon openly speaks about his battle with depression. He’s got the weight of a whole country on his shoulders—he was the national team’s goalkeeper! You’d think he’d be used to pressure, but it seems even he felt the weight crushing him. It’s like trying to juggle flaming swords while riding a unicycle on a tightrope, folks. And when it came to drugs, he said no. Not because he’s a superhero, but because he didn’t want to be dependent. Smart move! I mean, we don’t want Gigi turning into the Hulk every time he lets a goal slip through, do we?
Yet, on a brighter note, he discovered painting! It’s amazing to think that this giant of a man wanders through galleries now, probably with tears in his eyes, gazing up at Chagall like it’s some divine revelation! Painter Gigi Buffon? Sounds like an art exhibit waiting to happen: “The Saves and the Strokes.”
To sum it up, Gigi Buffon is not just a keeper of goals, but apparently a keeper of families, feelings, and—let’s not forget—painting. So, here’s to the man who’s turned his life’s mess into a beautiful mosaic, one layer at a time. Just remember, Gigi, your next charity event can be a paint night instead of a penalty shootout!
«Extended families? There was a time when I couldn’t fathom their importance. Now I grasp that they can significantly enrich our lives as long as we approach them with a spirit of generosity and patience.” These profound words come from Gigi Buffon, who celebrated his wedding to journalist Ilaria D’Amico on September 28th. Ilaria is not only his partner but also the mother of their mutual joy, Leopoldo Mattia, their third child together. Before this new chapter, Buffon had two sons, Thomas and David Lee, from his previous marriage to Alena Seredova, who has since found happiness with her new husband, manager Alessandro Rice. In a compelling interview with Corriere della Sera, Buffon reflects, «I believe that my life choices have shaped my children into individuals far better than they would have been if I had stayed home wallowing in our past unhappiness.”
«I’m genuinely pleased that Alena has created a new family with her daughter and a supportive partner at her side. The pain of making her suffer, and the subsequent impact on our children, was immense», continues the former national goalkeeper, who embarked on a relationship with his current wife following the dissolution of his marriage with Seredova. «It was a story that had reached its conclusion, marked by a deep crisis that we couldn’t ignore.» The unraveling of their relationship was stoked by a controversial incident after the renowned Milan-Juventus match in 2012, where a disputed goal brought forth a specious question that would haunt Buffon. «I was asked whether, had I realized the ball had crossed the line, I would have informed the referee.”
«I have never been one to sugarcoat the truth. I admitted I hadn’t seen the ball go in, and even had I seen it, I wouldn’t have felt obligated to share that with the referee. An uproar ensued following my response.» It wasn’t long before Buffon attended a charity event in a hospital where he met Ilaria, leading to an unexpected love affair. «Initially, I thought she was distant and cold, but I discovered a genuinely sweet side to her that was completely at odds with her television persona.» He even confided in Antonio Conte, then the coach of Juventus, revealing their newfound affection: «He remarked that a champion finds a companion in another champion», Buffon notes, gracefully shifting the discussion back to his illustrious career.
It was November 19, 1995, when Buffon, at just 17 years old, made his debut in Serie A donning the Parma jersey, facing off against Milan. «In the tunnel before the game, I felt a reassuring pat on my shoulder; it was Paolo Maldini. He spoke words of encouragement to me, understanding the moment I was experiencing given that he too had made his debut early in his career. I have never forgotten that gesture.” Buffon’s journey has been laden with numerous accolades, both in club football and on the international stage. Yet, despite his success, he faced an overwhelming obstacle when he began feeling trapped in his own mind. «I had just clinched back-to-back championships, but in the wake of those triumphs, a void emerged before me, leading to sleepless nights filled with anxiety.»
It was during this turbulent time that he encountered physical symptoms of distress on the pitch. «A weight settled in my chest, making it difficult for me to breathe. Whenever those feelings arose, I feared I wouldn’t be able to perform that day.” The diagnosis? Depression, confirmed by the team’s doctor. «I was hesitant to take medication. I recognized my need for help but was wary of potential dependency. I sought advice from a psychotherapist only a handful of times; however, he imparted valuable wisdom: engage in diverse interests, rather than being consumed by football.» This marked the beginning of his exploration into other passions, and it was during a visit to the Modern Art Gallery in Turin that he stumbled upon a Chagall exhibition that captivated his heart. That very next day, he returned to immerse himself in the art once more.
What was the significance of Paolo Maldini’s gesture towards Gianluigi Buffon during his Serie A debut?
Rong>made his Serie A debut with Parma, facing off against the legendary AC Milan. This monumental moment was marked by a supportive gesture from Paolo Maldini, who patted the young goalkeeper on the shoulder in the underpass. “He knew what I was experiencing,” Buffon recalls, emphasizing how impactful that simple encouragement was during such a high-stress moment.
Through the years, Buffon has experienced incredible highs and daunting lows both on and off the pitch. Following two straight championship wins, he found himself in a dark place, battling anxiety and depression that affected his performance and his mental health. The pressure of expectation, especially being Italy’s national team goalkeeper, weighed heavy on his shoulders. “I felt a pressure in my chest, like I couldn’t breathe. Every time I experienced that sensation, the thought that I wouldn’t be able to play would consume me,” he explained, underscoring the intense psychological strain felt by elite athletes.
Despite this, Buffon avoided medication for his condition, citing fears of dependency. Instead, he sought the help of a psychotherapist, who encouraged him to cultivate interests outside of football, leading him to the world of art. His passion for painting blossomed after discovering the works of Marc Chagall during a visit to an exhibition. “The next day, I went back to see her again,” he remarked, revealing a newfound appreciation for creativity that served as an outlet during his struggles.
As he navigated his personal life, Buffon found love again with Ilaria D’Amico after a lengthy and painful separation from his ex-wife, Alena Seredova. He candidly reflected on the impact of their breakup, admitting it was a “deep crisis” that caused immense suffering for all involved. Yet through this journey, he has emphasized the importance of family and personal growth. Buffon expresses gratitude for the new family structure he has, citing that as long as love and patience prevail, extended families can thrive and provide a rich support system.
In a touching reflection, Buffon proclaims he is happy that Alena is building a new family of her own, highlighting the growth and healing that has occurred. His children, Thomas and David Lee from his previous marriage, and his younger son, Leopoldo Mattia, with Ilaria, symbolize the blended family they have cultivated.
Buffon’s relationship with Ilaria reignited an invigorating spark in his life, and with humor and insight, they’ve risen through the challenges together. His journey—from a young goalkeeper with flashing potential to an artist in his own right—encapsulates resilience, love, and the unyielding capacity for growth, both personally and professionally. Here’s to Gigi Buffon: a champion not just on the field, but in navigating the complexities of life and love.
