Berlusconi Rejected Chance To Sign Buffon
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had a pre-contract deal to sign for Milan this summer but Rossoneri President Silvio Berlusconi pulled the plug on the deal.
According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Buffon had agreed a four-year contract, worth €6m a season, but Berlusconi stopped the transfer from going through because it would have cost him €25m.
Instead the former Prime Minister of Italy wanted to spend this money on renewing the contract of Brazilian keeper Dida, and bringing in youngster Alexandre Pato and midfielder Emerson.
Milan fans will surely be dismayed by the news that Buffon could have signed for the club. So far this season Dida has made a number of high-profile mistakes, particularly during the week three draw against Siena, while 31-year-old Emerson looks a shadow of the once great player he was.
The Milan hierarchy have been criticised enormously for their transfer policy over the summer, with the failure to bring in a top-class striker and a decent back-up goalkeeper the main points of condemnation.
These latest reports that Berlusconi turned down the chance to sign the undisputed number-one goalkeeper in the world, will certainly not go down well with the supporters.
Goal.com