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Buffon to miss start of season

New boy Marco Storari is expected to start 2010/11 between the posts for Juventus after No1 Gianluigi Buffon was ruled out for three months following surgery to remove a hernia.

Buffon to miss start of season
Buffon to miss start of season ©UEFA.com

Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on a hernia in Milan on Sunday night.

The 32-year-old Buffon suffered the problem to his spinal disc during Italy's FIFA World Cup opener against Paraguay and failed to appear for the second half. He remained in South Africa until the Azzurri's elimination after the group phase but the need for an operation "to remove the hernia and solve the nerve problem that was disturbing the player" was confirmed upon his return.

"The operation was successful," said surgeon Maurizio Fornari. "Now he needs a two-week rest before starting rehabilitation. I think he will be able to return to training in six to eight weeks, and will require about three months before playing again." Buffon will miss Juventus's UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie on 29 July and 5 August, with new signing Marco Storari expected to play in his absence.

Juventus have also taken right-back Marco Motta on loan from Udinese Calcio with an option to make the deal permanent at the season's end. The 24-year-old is the Bianconeri's fifth summer recruit following the arrivals of Storari, wingers Simone Pepe and Jorge Martínez, and centre-back Leonardo Bonucci. Motta came through Atalanta BC's youth system, making his Serie A debut with the Bergamo side in 2004/05. He then played for Udinese, Torino FC and AS Roma before returning to Udine last month.

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