Gianluigi Buffon said “life is incredible” after sealing his return to Juventus after a one-year absence. The 41-year-old has rejoined the Turin club after a season at Paris Saint-Germain and will act as an understudy to Wojciech Szczesny for the 2019-20 season.
The former Italy goalkeeper said: “I am happy to have returned home and to have the opportunity to embrace you and be embraced by you again.
“This is one of the most beautiful and happiest days of my life. Today I received confirmation that life is incredible and it’s always worth dreaming.”
Buffon enjoyed a trophy-laden 17 years with the Serie A champions before moving to Paris last summer. The 2006 World Cup winner, who underwent a medical on Thursday morning, arrives on a free transfer after winning the Ligue 1 title during his single season in France.
“After a year away from Turin, Gianluigi Buffon has returned to Juventus after penning in a one-year contract which will tie him to the club until 30 June 2020,” read a statement on the Italian club’s website. “Buffon is back home!”
JuventusFC
(@juventusfcen)OFFICIAL| @gianluigibuffon is back in Bianconero! ⚫⚪
Welcome home, Gigi! ❤️
➡️https://t.co/He2dq1mZbn #WelcomeBackGigi #LiveAhead pic.twitter.com/zIzTOMIvM6
Buffon was capped 176 times by his country and won the World Cup under Marcello Lippi in Germany. In addition to his international success, he won nine Serie A titles and four Italian Cups with Juve after signing from Parma in 2001.
Buffon will be managed by the former Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri and will play alongside Aaron Ramsey, the former Arsenal midfielder, in Turin. He becomes the club’s third free transfer of the summer following the arrivals of the Wales international Ramsey and his former PSG teammate Adrien Rabiot.
