Football - Will Anacoura replace Juve’s legendary goalkeeper Buffon? |15 January 2016

Young Juventus goalkeeper of Seychellois descent, Francesco Anacoura is being touted as a potential replacement for the legendary Gianluigi Buffon at the Serie A club.

According to an article on the Italian Serie A champions’ official website, the 21-year-old, who is currently on loan at third tier side Rimini, is among nine Juve-owned goalkeepers featured, who has the potential to perhaps replace the ageing World Cup winner.

The article points out some of the performances of these young goalkeepers and this is what it has to say about Anacoura: ‘The player originally from the Seychelles seems to have found in Rimini, the continuity that had been lacking in the past, buffeted by various loans in Cuneo, Vercelli and Pontedera. Among the goalkeepers owned by Juve, he is the one with the highest percentage of games played in the season among the professionals, having been used in all 16 games of the Lega Pro and two in the Italian Cup games. Compared to Dida by several Italian media, the 21-year-old goalkeeper has alternated from some exciting performances characterised by blunders in places, especially at the start of the season, but he never lost faith in his ability. He has the means to get to the top; perhaps it will not be as the heir to Buffon, but you should not rule out a debut in the Serie A in two or three years.’

Anacoura has played 18 games so far, conceding 26 goals along the way. Rimini are currently in 15th place in the Lego Pro B after 16 games.

Born in Milan, the capital of Lombardy, Anacoura began his career as a player of Lombard club Internazionale in 2004.

S. N.