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Juventus star Gianluigi Buffon: Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal wanted me
GIANLUIGI BUFFON has lifted the lid on the Premier League clubs who tried to sign him.
The 39-year-old has been at Juve since 2001 after joining from Parma in a £33m move - a world record fee for a goalkeeper.
Buffon is now preparing for Juve's Champions League final against Real Madrid on Saturday hoping to win Europe's top prize at the third attempt.
He has won nine Serie A titles during his time in his homeland - but things could have been very different had he opted for a move to the Premier League when three of England's biggest clubs wanted to sign him.
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Gianluigi Buffon has been at Juventus since 2001
Two of them were when I was a young player at Parma, and I know Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger asked about me – and then, when Manchester City was taken over, I know they approached Juventus
Ahead of Saturday's final Buffon revealed Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both came in for him, while City made an approach in 2008.
“From what I know, there have been three serious times when English clubs made an approach for me," Buffon said.
“Two of them were when I was a young player at Parma, and I know Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger asked about me – and then, when Manchester City was taken over, I know they approached Juventus.
Gianluigi Buffon has won nine Scudettos with Juventus
“There are many reasons why none of the deals happened. Even though the Premier League is a special league, I have always wanted to stay loyal to Juventus.
“I have always been very successful here. I would not have changed anything.”