Legendary Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon is reportedly the latest star to receive a lucrative offer for a move to Saudi Arabia.
At the age of 45, Gigi Buffon continues to impress as he currently plays for his boyhood club, Parma, in Serie B.
During the 22/23 season, Buffon suffered a hamstring injury but managed to reclaim his position in the team upon his return.
He made 17 appearances as Parma reached the Serie B play-offs. Despite having one year left on his contract with Parma, there are rumours that Buffon might consider one final move in his illustrious career.
According to Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport, an unnamed club in the Saudi Professional League has offered him a substantial contract worth £25 million per year which works out at a staggering £480,000 per week!
A legend of the game ✨
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 3, 2023
Gianluigi Buffon 🧤#UCL pic.twitter.com/VKALJ9iirs
As the former Juventus keeper heads into his 28th season as a player, the World Cup winner is now assessing his options for the upcoming 23/24 season.
He has three potential choices in front of him. Firstly, Buffon could decide to retire from the sport, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as Italy’s most-capped player and one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation.
Secondly, he might opt to remain at Parma and potentially become Italian football’s oldest goalkeeper, surpassing Andrea Pierobon’s record.
Lastly, Buffon could choose to move to the Middle East and become the second Italian player to compete in the Saudi Professional League, following in the footsteps of Sebastian Giovinco, who represented Al Hilal from 2019 to 2021.
The Saudi Professional League has recently seen an influx of high-profile signings. Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, became the first prominent player to make a move to Saudi Arabia when he joined Al Nassr in January.
Since then, the Saudi league has been actively attracting football’s biggest names. Players such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Edouard Mendy, and Kalidou Koulibaly have all joined clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Buffon finds himself in the company of other players like Bernardo Silva, Roberto Firmino, David De Gea, and Son Heung-min, who have been linked with potentially lucrative moves to the league.
As Buffon contemplates his next move, he faces a significant decision regarding his future in football.
Whether he chooses retirement, extends his record-breaking career at Parma, or embarks on a new adventure in Saudi Arabia, his legacy as one of the game’s greatest goalkeepers is firmly established.
