Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has revealed that he was a target for both Manchester United and Manchester City during his career.
Now at PSG, Buffon has told former United defender Rio Ferdinand that he was scouted by United while he was at Parma. Sir Alex Ferguson had identified Buffon as a potential replacement for Peter Schmeichel but Buffon chose to stay loyal to Parma though of course he went on to join Juventus.
Buffon told Ferdinand that United showed an interest in him for several years though United eventually gave up on him when they signed Edwin van der Sar from Fulham in 2005.
“Yes, when I was a boy playing for Parma," replied Buffon when asked if he'd ever been tempted to play in the Premier League. "Ferguson tracked me closely for two or three years and he’d always send scouts to watch me. At the time Parma, was my world and I didn’t feel like leaving.
"I later had a big offer from Manchester City when they started to build the team. They wanted me to be the first signing but I stayed at Juve."
PSG are in pole position to progress to the quarter finals of the Champions League ahead of tomorrow's second leg against Manchester United. They hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg at Old Trafford and United are missing several first-choice players through injury and suspension.
United interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been talking up his side's chance of overhauling that deficit but it will be a huge effort to reach the quarter finals from here.
❌ Man City
Buffon reveals he twice had the opportunity to come to England and twice turned it down.
Watch the interview in full on Tuesday at 10.30pm on BT Sport 2.
