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Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri believes his captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon "deserves" to win the 2017 Ballon d'Or. Buffon, 39, has never won the award before but is enjoying a successful season, with Juve on the verge of sealing the Serie A title and in the Champions League final, while he is still going strong with Italy. Whatever happens in the Champions League final when Juve come up against holders Real Madrid, Allegri feels Buffon should still be handed the Ballon d'Or. "Gigi deserves the Ballon d'Or regardless of the Champions League," Allegri told a news conference. "He deserved it in previous years too, having won so many titles and the World Cup." Juventus are in their second Champions League final in three seasons, having lost 3-1 to Barcelona in 2015. "The difference now is that two years ago we didn't expect to be in the final, whereas this year there were more expectations around us," Allegri said. "We need to get there with a relaxed approach, as we have some important games to play first. At the right moment, three or four days before the final, we'll prepare. We can win the Champions League and you need belief for that." Meanwhile, Allegri praised former Juve boss Antonio Conte after he guided Chelsea to the Premier League title on Friday. "I have to compliment Conte for what he's done, as it was not easy to join a foreign league and win straight away," Allegri said. "We have many coaches who have won abroad, so the Italian school of management is excellent. The culture and tradition of football are very good, as proved by the four World Cups won by the Nazionale, the players who foreign clubs come to pick up and the meticulously-prepared tactics. Building play is part of the culture and tradition of Italian football."
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