PokerStars Signs Italian Goalkeeper Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon
May 24, 2010 7:43 amOnline poker giant PokerStars have just announced the addition of Italian football legend Gianluigi “Gigi” Buffon to their Team PokerStars Pro contingent.
The 32 year old Juventus and Italian national side goalkeeper is widely considered to be one of the best players in the world and has been named the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record nine times. Buffon, known to his fans as “Gigi”, was also instrumental in helping his country secure a victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and will be hoping to repeat that achievement at the World Cup in South Africa this summer.
PokerStars have been making major inroads into the Italian poker market since being granted a licence to launch an Italians only version of PokerStars in the country in 2008, known as PokerStars.it. Having Buffon as an ambassador for the site will surely help to attract further local interest and commenting on the new deal, PokerStars’ Italian Country Manager, Barbara Beltrami said:
“It is truly a pleasure for us to have Gigi Buffon as an Ambassador for PokerStars.it. His sporting and competitive spirit embodies the values of our brand and we feel very proud that the number one goalkeeper in the world decided to represent the number one poker site in Italy.”
As well as a sponsoring a whole host of professional poker players, PokerStars also boasts many top sporting celebrities on their books, including Major League Baseball pitcher Orel Hershiser, hockey player Mats Sundin, Brazilian auto racer Gualter Salles, French rugby union international Sébastien Chabal and former tennis champion Boris Becker.
Gianluigi “Gigi” Buffon will now add his name to the sites swelling sporting ranks, and he couldn’t be happier with his new sponsorship deal.“I love living life to the full,” he said. ” I know there will be many commitments but I love playing poker and the opportunity to join Italy’s and the world’s largest poker site is an honour and a great challenge. I can’t wait to play against Team PokerStars Pros and I’m ready to have lots of fun playing against everyone who wants to take me on.”