The Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has railed against the influx of Far East money into Serie A and said the sales of Internazionale and Milan to Chinese investors are a defeat for Italian football.

China’s president, Xi Jinping, is looking to expand the country’s global presence in the sport, and Chinese investors have struck a series of eye‑catching deals for European clubs this year.

The Electronics retailer Suning bought nearly 70% of Inter Milan in June for €270m, while a consortium of Chinese investors signed a preliminary agreement in August to buy Inter’s city rivals AC Milan.

“It is the defeat of Italian football. Of Italy as a country, of the traditions, of everything,” Buffon, 38, the captain of his club and Italy, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Thursday.

“But we have what we deserve, we are fickle, without a rooted sense of belonging and history has always demonstrated that.

“We ask for Italian identity, but if, after 30 years, the Italian experiences a difficult moment, with five years in 10th place, then we don’t accept it.”

AC Milan, who are third in Serie A on 16 points, have not won a domestic league title in the past five years and missed out on European qualification for the third consecutive campaign last season. Inter Milan, who are 11th in the table, have not won a league title since José Mourinho led them to a treble in the 2009-2010 season and have not qualified for the Champions League for the past five years.

Buffon, who wants to retire after the 2018 World Cup, said he was open to the idea of coaching a national team when his playing career ends, but ruled out managing a club as it would take up too much time.

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