Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will stay with demoted giants Juventus, but admits that a move to Milan would fascinate him.
The world champion has been paired with the Rossoneri outfit after the Calciopoli verdicts relegated Juve into Serie B, but now seems set to remain in Turin.
“I told Juve that I was at their disposal and was willing to leave if they needed to sell me,” said Buffon to the La Repubblica newspaper.
“If the club instead wants me to stay I will do so. I think I owe it to Juve, to the family that owns the team and to the supporters,” added the 28-year-old.
“Many people have been telling me I would be moving to Milan in the past few weeks and I admit I wouldn’t say no to such an offer, but I would be very sorry to leave Juve.”
Rumours in April had already suggested Buffon could join Milan, in a part exchange deal involving Christian Abbiati.
But after the match-fixing verdicts were delivered, the negotiations stalled and Abbiati - who spent last season on loan at Juve - finally signed for city rivals Torino.
“I was keen on moving, I wanted to play in a different stadium, see different faces, experience a new environment,” added the Azzurri goalkeeper.
“I think this is a normal reaction after five or six years in the same place.
“Now, however, I feel I cannot leave Juve. I guess I will find new motivation playing in a different Division,” added the Tuscan player.
Buffon enjoyed success at Parma for six years before moving to Juventus in 2001.
He also received the 2006 Lev Yashin Award for the World Cup’s best goalkeeper during Italy’s German success.
channel4