Gianluigi Buffon reveals why he rejected a move to Barcelona

Iconic Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has this week provided an insight into his decision to reject a late-career move to La Liga giants Barcelona.

Buffon, for his part, called time on his playing days back in the summer of 2023, on the back of a two-year stint on the books of Parma.

Prior to this, the now-46-year-old spent the most memorable years of his career lining out for Juventus, also spending a solitary season in France with Paris Saint-Germain.

And, as alluded to above, had another of the continent’s leading clubs had their way, Buffon would have spent time in their colours, too.

Speaking during an interview with Corriere della Sera, as cited by Mundo Deportivo, this week, the former goalkeeper revealed that, prior to reuniting with his first club in Parma, he was offered a backup role at none other than Barcelona.

In the end, though, a moment of clarity saw Buffon opt to see out his final days on the pitch back ‘where it all began’:

“I had an offer from Barça as second goalkeeper, and I liked the idea of ​​playing with Messi after Cristiano. One day, however, I was driving and on the radio came a song that I love and that I hadn’t heard for 10 years, ‘Bella’ by Jovanotti. I looked up and saw the toll booth at Parma. A sign: closing where it all began.”