PSG Star Reveals How Sir Alex Ferguson Tried To Sign Him

Gianluigi Buffon has revealed that Manchester United tried to sign him in the past.

The legendary Italian goalkeeper, who spent most of his professional club career in his native homeland, eventually departed from the Serie A to finalise his move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2018.

But now, in a recent interview with BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, the 41-year-old shot-stopper has revealed how he also had a chance to move to the Premier League during his time at his first club Parma, between 1995 to 2001.

When asked if he ever received an offer to play in England, Buffon replied: “Yes, when I was a boy playing for Parma, 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.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson had identified Buffon as a potential long-term successor for the legendary Peter Schmeichel, who departed from Old Trafford in 1999.

The PSG star further revealed that he had also received an offer from Manchester United‘s inter-city rivals during the latter part of his career.

“I later had a big offer from Manchester City when they started the build the team. They wanted me to be the first signing, but I stayed at Juve,” the decorated custodian added.

Now with the French capital club, Buffon is set to face his former admirers, as the Red Devils take on the Parisians in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 encounter on Wednesday night.