STADIO ENNIO TARDINI, PARMA, ITALY - 2020/12/19: Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus FC looks on during ... [+]
Age is just a number for 43 years-old Italian soccer legend Gianluigi Buffon, who is still going strong and showing no signs of hanging up his gloves.
After winning the Coppa Italia in his last season at Juventus, everybody was expecting him to issue a press conference to call it a career.
Instead, the former Italy international stunned everyone announcing his move back to his boyhood club Parma, moving down to Serie B - Italy’s second tier soccer league.
The Gialloblu announced the return of their "superman" with a video showing Buffon digging up a time capsule buried beneath one of the nets at the Tardini stadium.
The soccer superstar signed a two-year contract with freshly relegated Parma, meaning he will play until 45 years old.
Buffon decision came as a surprise. The veteran goalkeeper left Juventus at the end of the 2020/2021 season and was reportedly approached by Turkish Super Lig giants Besiktas, brazilian side Flamengo, and even FC Barcelona.
Instead, the Italian soccer giant chose to return to the club where he began his senior career 26 years ago.
The move was immediately dubbed by Italian press as “the most romantic of his long career”.
The legendary goalkeeper was 17 years, nine months and 22 days old when he made is debut for Parma in November 1995, as a product of the Ducali youth academy.
From then on, Buffon played for six years with Parma between 1995 and 2001 winning the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and famously the 1998-99 UEFA Cup before leaving for Juventus, where he became a global soccer icon.
When in 2001 the Bianconeri signed him for $63 million they broke the transfer record for a goalkeeper at the time.
‘After more than a quarter of century, Gigi’ felt it was time to go back where it all began.
During his welcoming presentation Buffon, who turns 44 next January, said the reason for his return is his “hope is to write a few more important pages in the history of this club.”
The idea of returning to the Parma came after Juventus played against the Ducali in the Italian league, when Buffon chatted with Parma president, Iowa-based businnessman Kyle Klause.
“I spoke to the president and his son after the game. At the end, he asked if I wanted to come back to Parma,” Buffon revealed.
“The emotional bond and the feeling that I would work for a cause, the visceral connection with Parma made the difference," explained Buffon.
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Buffon turned down an offer from Barcelona to be the second goalkeeper to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
“I had other offers, some very nice ones certainly. I had two opportunities to even win the Champions League, but not as a protagonist. I knew Parma would give me something that no other team could,” explained the goalkeeper.
“We are thrilled to welcome Gigi Buffon home. We are going to bring this legendary club back to its rightful place. Buffon's return is another validation of that ambition. It's a really special moment for all of us," said Kyle Krause, who bought Parma in September 2018.
Just five year ago, Parma were declared bankrupt and stuck in the low-level Serie D.
With the return of Buffon, the American-owned club hopes to climb its way back into Serie A next season.
“People forget, but Parma are the fourth most successful club in Italy when it comes to winning European silverware. This is a side with a difficult present, but a glorious past and I believe a wonderful future to come," added the shot-stopper.
Buffon won 27 trophies at club level, alongside the 2006 World Cup with Italy, collecting a record 176 caps with the National team.
His hunger, enthusiasm and dedication made him a living legend that not only Parma supporters but all soccer fans hope to be able to enjoy for a little longer.
