Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves – these names are the signed editions to the exploding Saudi football boom. And it is just the beginning as the list could continue with Neymar, Hakim Ziyech, Roberto Firmino, Bernardo Silva, Marcelo Brozovic, Wilfried Zaha and Jota. And it is understandable – these players can still give a lot to the world of football, fitness-wise, agility-wise – but the lastest rumour surprised many. The Saudi football league is calling one of the greatest names of the sport but a name that many see as retired even though he is still not – Gianluigi Buffon.Nearly three decades since his professional debut, the Italian’s footballing career has continued with the 45-year-old captaining his boyhood club Parma in Serie B.##NAJAVA_MECA_7347593##Buffon still has twelve months remaining on his current deal at the Stadio Ennio Tardini but reports suggest the keeper may have one final move left in his legendary career – the 45-year-old has received an extremely lucrative offer to become the latest star to join the burgeoning Saudi Pro League this summer, a report from Italian publication Corriere dello Sport claims. The goalkeeper is said to have been offered a 30-million-euros-a-year offer to join an unnamed team in the gulf state.There are options for the Italian star, a man approaching his 28th season as a senior player – first, he could step away from the game entirely, hanging up his boots as Italy’s most-capped player and one of the most highly-regarded goalkeepers ever to grace the game.Second, he could see out his contract at Parma, and in doing so likely eclipse Andrea Pierobon’s record as the oldest goalkeeper in Italian football history.Finally, he could become the latest noteworthy player to make the move to Saudi Arabia, playing domestic football outside of his native country for just the second time in his illustrious career following his brief spell at PSG in 2018-19.Gianluigi Buffon has crucial hours ahead of him as he will decide whether he will continue playing football or retire. 🇮🇹🧤🐐He could stay at Parma for another year or go somewhere else, with Saudi Arabia holding some interest in him, via @DiMarzio 👀#Parma | #Transfers pic.twitter.com/SgFkHE013F— Transfer Core (@TransferCore_) June 30, 2023 Should Buffon join the upstart league, he would become just the second Italian to appear in the Saudi top flight, following former Juventus teammate Sebastian Giovinco who made 57 appearances for Al-Hilal between 2019 and 2021.Big names have rejected heading to the Middle East such as Lionell Messi, Luka Modric or Steven Gerrard. Will Buffon join the group from the beginning of this article or the few from the end will soon be revealed.
