Gianluigi Buffon set for shock move to Championship side

 41-year old Gianluigi Buffon, who left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, is ready for what could be the final move of his glittering career. 

The Italian legend spent 17 years at Juventus before transferring to the French champions. Even though Buffon stayed in Paris for one year, he still considers it as “home”. 

 “Ernest Hemingway wrote that there are only two places in the world where people can live happily: at home and in Paris”, he said. “Today onwards, this will also apply to me: Paris, in some way, will always remain my home.”

“Twelve months ago, I arrived at Paris Saint-Germain filled with enthusiasm, welcomed by the incredible warmth of the fans. It was really moving. Thank you, once again, from the bottom of my heart”, he added.

Gianluigi Buffon, who is a free agent this summer, is attracting interest from a host of clubs, including Brazilian side Fluminese, Portuguese giants Porto, Italian side Atalanta and most interestingly, Championship outfit Leeds United. 

Leeds want the veteran goalkeeper not only for his world-class ability between the posts but also to add significant experience to their dressing room. Buffon could also help nurture young goalkeepers in the squad, whilst having an impact both on and off-the-field.

Gianluigi Buffon has a staggering 901 appearances, including 640 Serie A matches and 176 caps for Italy, keeping 405 clean-sheets for club and country. 

Marcelo Biesla’s side will hope to produce another strong challenge in a bid to get promoted to the English top-flight next season. The Whites lost to Derby County over two legs in the Championship play-off semi-final as their splendid season ended on a sour note. 

Leeds United are also linked with a move for Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet. The French side will need to offload some of their star names in order to curb their financial situation, and the former West Ham man could be on his way out of Ligue 1.