Report: Buffon close to rejoining Parma after 20 years

Romance is still alive in football.

Gianluigi Buffon is close to returning to Parma, reports Fabrizio Romano of The Guardian. The iconic Italian goalkeeper, 43, made his Serie A debut with the club 26 years ago.

Buffon confirmed in May that he will leave Juventus when his contract expires this summer. Multiple clubs have presented offers to the shot-stopper, but he's most intrigued by Parma's proposal, Romano notes.

Parma will play in Serie B next season after being relegated from the top flight.

Buffon previously made 220 appearances for the Gialloblu, winning the UEFA Cup, Coppa Italia, and Italian Super Cup before moving to Juventus for €52 million in 2001.

He kept a clean sheet on his Parma debut as a 17-year-old in 1995, making impressive saves against the likes of Roberto Baggio and George Weah to stymie AC Milan in a goalless draw.

"When he started training with us, I could not believe my eyes," former Parma coach Nevio Scala said of Buffon in 2017. "I had to keep asking my staff whether they were seeing the same things as me."