Former Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said he is glad Paulo Dybala did not move to Inter.
The Argentina international became a free agent at the end of last season when his Juventus contract expired and he was heavily linked with a move to Inter.
Nerazzurri director Beppe Marotta even confirmed the interest but no deal was agreed and Dybala joined Roma.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Buffon said of his former team-mate: “Paulo had the right to choose after his exit from Juventus on a free transfer.
“In the past few weeks, Dybala could have gone to Inter, Roma or Napoli and I hoped he would have chosen either of the latter two. I hoped it for his career.
“Paulo needed an emotional shock and I was certain that only Roma and Napoli could have given that to him.
“I wrote it to him in a message and I am happy to see him at Roma. Dybala, from a technical point of view, is the best in Serie A alongside [Ángel] Di Maria.”
Buffon and Dybala spent five seasons together at Juve, winning Serie A in four of them – and the league and Coppa Italia double on three successive occasions.
Dybala joined from Palermo in 2015, with Buffon having already been at the club for 15 years.
In their second season together, they reached the Champions League final – Juve’s second in three seasons – but were beaten by Real Madrid.
Just a year later, Buffon spent a season in France with Paris Saint-Germain before returning and the duo won their last league title together in 2019-20.
Thank you Gigi!
Good, this is good that Buffon is sticking to giving comments regularly. This is what he should focus on, giving interviews and punditry in general instead of trying to chase some glory that doesn’t await him.