Gianluigi Buffon leads Juventus land in Cardiff ahead of Champions League final as keeper reveals Fergie and Wenger both tried to sign him
JUVENTUS have landed at Cardiff Airport as goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon led Massimiliano Allegri’s squad off the flight.
The 39-year-old who celebrated 1,000 games as a pro recently but revealed he has been tracked down by Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger in the past.
Allegri’s side will be aiming to win their third Champions League crown when they take on Real Madrid at the National Stadium of Wales tomorrow night.
Juve will be reliant on their outstanding defence for the final, with Buffon playing behind a solid back three of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli with Dani Alves and Alex Sandro deployed as wing backs.
He wore Ray Ban-style sunglasses as he descended the ramp on to the tarmac at Cardiff Airport.
But Buffon could have ended up as a successor to Manchester United‘s legendary keeper Peter Schmeichel or Arsenal’s David Seaman.
Both former stoppers wound down their careers in English football at similar times and Buffon has revealed he was chased as a possible replacement when he was at Parma.
The Italian No1 then became the world’s most expensive keeper when he moved to Juventus, where he remains to this day.
Buffon said: “From what I know, there have been three serious times when English clubs made an approach for me.
“Two of them were when I was a young player at Parma, and I know Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger asked about me.
“And then, when Manchester City was taken over, I know they approached Juventus.
“There are many reasons why none of the deals happened.
“Even though the Premier League is a special league, I have always wanted to stay loyal to Juventus.
“I have always been very successful here. I would not have changed anything.”