Gianluigi Buffon may not leave Italy after all but still avoid facing Juventus next season, as he desires. The goalkeeper is in advanced talks to join Parma in Serie B on a two-year deal. He has received proposals from Barcelona, where he would the backup, and Besiktas. However, he is very fascinated by the idea of returning to the Ducali, Sky Sport reports.
His agent Silvano Martina stated: “Parma is a viable destination. Everything is still possible, he is considering multiple options.” Buffon decided not to extend his contract with Juventus in early May, ending his second stint at the club. He served as the reserve in the past two campaigns after a season at PSG.
The 43-year-old goalkeeper would reunite with his former teammate Enzo Maresca in Emilia, who has been recently appointed as the coach. Former Juventus scout Javier Ribalta now heads the Parma management.
Buffon made his Serie A debut with the Ducali in 1995, when he was 17. He collected 168 appearances over five years, contributing to the historic 1998/1999 campaign, where they won the UEFA Cup, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa. The Bianconeri acquired him in 2001 for today’s equivalent of €52.88M plus a €15M rated player. He went to shatter countless records in his 19 seasons with the Old Lady, winning ten Scudetti.
He announced in his last presser: “I will either quit or consider a club that gives me proper motivation or allows me to make a different life experience. In Italy, I could play only at Juventus or Parma.”