Players come and go in football, the memories of them and their exploits often transient. Yet, some players exploits tend to remain as more than ethereal shadows long after they’ve retired and moved on to other things.
One such player is one-club man Paolo Maldini, who many rghtly say is the greatest left-back that has ever graced the game. Positions are often seen as synonymous with iconic players who have graced them. Take the position of goalkeeper – many would say that one of the greatest players to feature as a stopper is Maldini’s fellow Italian Gianluigi Bufon.
41-year-old Buffon is a free agent as of July 1 and will be leaving world football giants Paris Saint-Germain after just one season in the French capital. He featured in 17 Ligue1 games for the French outfit, conceding 18 times and keeping six clean sheets. He also played in five of PSG’s Champions League games, conceding six times and keeping one clean sheet.
Quite simply put, Gigi is one of the greatest keepers to have played the game. Way back in 2001 he commanded a £47.6m fee moving from Parma to Juventus, staying at the Turin giants for the next 17 seasons. He’s a veterna of 640 Serie A games and has an astonishing 176 Italy caps to his name. In total he has 901 appearances to his name and has kept an astonishing 405 clean sheets.
All of that combined makes for eye-opening reading…as does the fact that he is being linked to Leeds United. The Daily Mail, as per Italian source Corriere della Sera, say that the Whites are one of a trio of clubs interested in bringing Buffon into their particular fold. The other two, Fluminense and Porto are teams in their respective top-tier competitions with Leeds United striving to escape the clutches of the Sky Bet Championship.
It’s a strange link, possibly the strangest link that any club’s fans are going to see with regard to their club. It’s definitely gotten Leeds United fans talking on Twitter, here’s what some of them have been saying.
Leeds United fans comment on Gigi Buffon rumours
Oh my god! Imagine if Leeds manage to pull off the best signing ever and bring in Buffon on a free transfer! Wow that would be amazing! I have everything crossed! Please god, let this happen! #Lufc #ALAW #mot #LeedsUnited #buffon
— Luke Turner (@LUKEE1995) June 22, 2019
Buffon is past it. BUT, I’d welcome him with every fibre of my being #LUFC
— Adam Walker 🦚 (@AdamWalker14) June 22, 2019
Leeds in for Buffon!! Got to love the transfer rumours that fly about during the close season 😂 #lufc #alaw #mot #buffon
— Gary Marshall (@Garymarshall_85) June 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/TaylorDee93/status/1142552051567747072
If #LUFC signed Buffon, I honestly think I would die there and then. Wouldn’t even see him play for us.
— Craig Walker (@CraigWalker1983) June 22, 2019
Be ace to see #lufc sign Buffon. Well, once his rheumatoid arthritis kicks in beginning of October
— Mr O (@itsmr0) June 22, 2019
Imagine Buffon in a Leeds shirt 😍 #daretodream #lufc
— Ben (@ben_seldon) June 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/Bilton_6/status/1142537283591122946
If Leeds sign Buffon, I’m going to be warped and get a full goalkeeper kit with Buffon on the back 😂 #LUFC
— Christopher Smith (@TheBoyInGreen) June 22, 2019
@PhilHay_ has only been gone 4 days and we are already being linked with Buffon and Payet 🤣 We need Phil back #lufc
— Fin (@FinGarnham) June 22, 2019
Buffon at the back, Payet in attack, Leeds are going to the Premier League 😂😂😂😂 #lufc
— BuzzingBielsa CHAMPIONS 🏆 (@OatesGed) June 22, 2019
With rumoursof this magnitude, you can guarantee it is going to be a long, long summer for Leeds United fans. Announce Paul Rachubka.
