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The day Buffon came close to joining Barcelona

The day Buffon came close to joining Barcelona

  • Jordan Russell (@JordRuss96)
Gianluigi Buffon is once again set to cross paths with Barcelona tomorrow night when the Blaugrana visit Turin for another hugely important Champions League match. Everyone knows how big an occasion it will be for both sides. What many people won’t realise however is how close the legendary goalkeeper once came to joining Barça.
 
While at Parma, the World Cup winner declined an offer from the Catalan club, having already agreed to join Juventus instead. Everything was done in good spirits and Buffon remained on very good terms with then Barcelona president Joan Gaspart, thanking him for his interest in securing his services.
 
Many years later, Buffon explained during an interview with Sportmediaset that: “Before signing for Juve, I could have joined Barcelona, but my father recommended that I join La Vecchia Signora. I thank him again because Turin has given me a lot of satisfaction, while Barça weren’t as good then as they are now.”