Luigi Del Neri has told Gianluigi Buffon that he will have to earn his spot back in the Juventus team.
Goalkeeper not guaranteed starting spot on return from injury
Luigi Del Neri has told Gianluigi Buffon that he will have to earn his spot back in the team when he returns from injury.
Buffon has been out of action all season after undergoing back surgery in the summer and there has been speculation linking him with a move away from Juventus.
He has played down the transfer talk and set his sights on a January comeback, but Del Neri insists he will not be guaranteed a starting place.
Recognised as one of the world's finest goalkeepers in recent years, Buffon nevertheless faces a fight to dislodge current No.1 Marco Storari.
"Will Gigi be a regular when he comes back? Nothing is due to anyone," said Del Neri.
"With me all players start at the same level and whoever deserves to play does so. There are no hierarchies.
No January move
"Buffon will have to show on the field that he can come back to be the best.
"For now Marco Storari deserves to be the regular and it will be really hard to leave him out, considering the way in which he's playing."
Buffon's agent Silvano Martina responded to Del Neri's comments with disappointment, but dismissed reports of a winter move.
Martina said: "Buffon does not deserve this. Nothing is due? Gigi did not ask for anything.
"And don't talk about the market in January, because in January Gigi will return to action in a Juventus jersey."
