Gigi Buffon explains why Gigio Donnarumma and Cristiano Ronaldo made the right transfer decisions over the summer, joining PSG and Manchester United, respectively.
Donnarumma left Milan at the end of his contract moving to Paris on a free transfer.
The 22-year-old signed a contract until June 2026, but has been struggling with playing time and has recently claimed that the competition with Keylor Navas ‘disturbs’ him.
“I think Gigio’s decision is more than justified,” Buffon told Tiki Taka, as quoted by Calciomercato.com.
“He’s faced some difficult moments, but I think he will become a regular starter in the near future.”
Buffon also spent one year in Paris. Back in 2018, he left Juventus at the end of his contract, joining the Ligue 1 giants.
However, he remained at PSG only for one season, making his comeback to Turin in 2019.
“I had told my agent that I wanted to retire. I thought I’d play the World Cup and that’s where I wanted to end my career,” he explained.
“I could have changed my mind only if Real Madrid, Barcelona or PSG had called. After 20 days, I received the call from Paris and I thought it was a shame to waste the opportunity.
“That season, we won 2-0 in Manchester against United, but Juventus lost 2-0 against Atletico [in the first leg of the Champions League last 16].
“I was happy for myself, but I didn’t feel at ease for Juventus’ loss, and this had an impact on my choices. Then life punishes you because in the end Juve and United qualified.
“I didn’t like the idea to be a second-choice goalkeeper, but I accepted it because winning the Champions League with that group of players and directors would have been great.”
Buffon spent two seasons with Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin. The Portuguese forward left the Allianz Stadium in the summer, returning to Manchester United. Ronaldo scored 101 goals in 134 appearances with the Bianconeri.
“If Ronaldo wasn’t convinced about staying, leaving was the right thing to do,” Buffon admitted.
The legendary goalkeeper joined Parma in Serie B over the summer and dreams of playing the World Cup next year: ‘That’s the excuse to continue, it’s the motivation that everyone agrees with.”