Claudio Ranieri has defended Gianluigi Buffon after he clattered into Andy Carroll.
Claudio Ranieri has defended Gianluigi Buffon after the goalkeeper clattered into Andy Carroll in Juventus' friendly defeat to Newcastle.Sam Allardyce was left fuming at the Italian international following the incident, which he claims could have seriously injured the teenage striker.
Buffon charged out of his box with knees and elbows raised, and crashed straight into Carroll shortly after his goal had put The Magpies 2-0 up.
Allardyce rushed from the stands to remonstrate with referee Mark Clattenburg, but Juve coach Ranieri insists the reckless challenge was not intentional on Buffon's part.
"Gianluigi is a gentleman," Ranieri told Italian press. "It was an accident. He was only thinking of blocking the ball."
