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Gianluigi Buffon reckons he will be shaking hands with the world’s No.1 keeper at the Etihad on Tuesday night.

Buffon knows what it takes to be the best and the Juventus and Italy legend is a big admirer of his opposite number for Manchester City and England, Joe Hart.

He has watched him develop over the last five years and says Hart has taken his axing in 2013 and used it to force his way into the world elite and become a “real leader”.

Buffon, who won the 2006 World Cup and holds the record for most clean sheets in Serie A and for Italy, said: “I’ve been watching his game for a few years now, and Joe Hart is now for me one of the top three goalkeepers in the world.

“He had the period where he made some mistakes and was dropped, but he needed that.

(Image: Claudio Villa/Getty)

“I’ve always said you need to be a bit of a masochist to be a top goalkeeper and that period would have made Joe that.

“Since his return to the team after being dropped, you won’t think of a better goalkeeper in the world.

“It’s not just about the saves he makes, but the way he organises with such confidence. He is a real leader.”

(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty)

Buffon, 37, knows Hart will not be the only star in City’s side on Tuesday and says they have talent all over the pitch.

But he shied away from saying the clash between the kings of Italy and Premier League’s unbeaten pacesetters will be decisive in the cliched ‘group of death’.

“Whatever team Manchester City start with, it’s going to be a good one,” he said. “It’s obvious when you spend that amount of money, you have quality everywhere. And that is exactly what they have.

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“I understand why people are excited about this game, but there are 18 points to fight for, not three.

“’Group of death’ or whatever people want to call it is not relevant. I don’t pay attention to names like that, but clearly it is a very hard group.

“The reality is that two very good clubs will not qualify and we will be fighting for every point to make sure one of them are not us.”