'Best ever' Buffon better than De Gea, insists Darmian

Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian insists that Italy international Gianluigi Buffon is a better goalkeeper than David De Gea.

Darmian has experience of playing in front of Buffon, the legendary 38-year-old Juventus stopper, and De Gea, with the Spaniard becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the world in recent seasons at Old Trafford.  

And, ahead of Italy's clash with Spain in the first knockout stage of Euro 2016, Darmian has claimed that Buffon will forever be considered a better stopper than De Gea.

"It's great to play against David, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Of course, it will be difficult to score, but we also have a great goalkeeper," he told reporters.

"They are two of the best goalkeepers in the world and, yes, there are similarities between David and Gigi [Buffon], for sure. But I think that Gianluigi Buffon is the best goalkeeper of all time. For me as a defender I feel very lucky to play with them."

Italy won Group E, ahead of Belgium, while Spain finished second in Group D, losing out to Croatia.