FC Barcelona seems to be interested in a commitment from goalkeeper icon Gianluigi Buffon. The 41-year-old had recently announced his farewell after only one year at Paris Saint-Germain, but ruled out a career end.
According to a report by Sky Italia, Barca have already approached Buffon and offered the old star the role of second goalkeeper behind Marc-Andre ter Stegen and first goalkeeper in the Copa del Rey. A role with which Buffon was already confronted in his time in the French capital.
At PSG, Buffon was seeded in the Champions League, but often had to sit on the bench behind Alphonse Areola in the Cup and League, making only 25 out of a possible 55 games.
Jasper Cillesen, the Catalan’s current number two, made it clear shortly after winning the Spanish championship that he would no longer accept the role of permanent reservist despite his contract, which runs until 2021.
“First I have a nice holiday and then I hope that there is a nice new club,” said the Dutchman. The role as Ter Stegen backup will therefore most likely be free and it is questionable whether the Catalans will promote talent Inaki Pena from the second team.
The Barcelona gossip has therefore been spreading recently, especially as far as goalkeepers are concerned. The Marca reported that among others the names Andre Onana (Ajax), Pau Lopez (Real Betis Sevilla) and Yann Sommer (Borussia Mönchengladbach) were discussed at Barca.
Unlike the three candidates, however, Buffon would not cost a replacement, but would probably demand a significantly higher salary than Cillessen has done so far. The latter earned around two million euros a year in Barcelona and Buffon earned a basic sum of five million euros in Paris.
This is likely to be difficult, not least because of the financially difficult situation at FC Barcelona – salaries have exploded in recent years.
