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Juventus transfer news: Gianluigi Buffon returns to Turin as club confirms homecoming

The 2006 World Cup winner spent 17 years at the Serie A club before moving to PSG last summer

Thursday 04 July 2019 15:27 BST

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Maurizio Sarri wants to help Cristiano Ronaldo break more records at Juventus

Juventus have confirmed that Gianluigi Buffon has completed his return to Turin after undergoing a successful medical earlier today.

The 41-year-old – whose previous spell at Juventus lasted 17 years – left the Italian club last summer to join PSG, where he secured the Ligue 1 title.

The goalkeeper failed to help the French side achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Champions League, however, a trophy that has also eluded the Italian throughout his career.

"I am happy to have returned home," Buffon said on Thursday, speaking at the club's medical centre. "This is one of the happiest and most beautiful days of my life.

"Today I received the confirmation that life is incredible and it's always worth dreaming."

Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

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1/14Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

The Dutch international is one of the most coveted players in Europe, but how did the teenager go from hot prospect to superclub transfer target?

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Breakthrough

This has been a breakthrough campaign for De Ligt, with the 19-year-old making 55 first-team appearances for Ajax this season and breaking into the Dutch national team.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Golden Boy

In December 2018 he was named Golden Boy, becoming the first defender to win the award.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Barca rumours begin

De Ligt's future has been a repeated topic of discussion in the Catalan press for months, with much speculation that he could follow Frenkie de Jong to the club.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Bite back

But the defender hit out at the rumours in April. "I don't know if that's a good newspaper," he said of Mundo Deportivo. "They've been writing about me for a while now, but I'm still playing at Ajax. They're not that well-informed. Nothing is happening at the moment."

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Juve links

He did however talk up a potential move to Juventus, “I really like [Giorgio] Chiellini, as he is one of the best defenders in the world. I also appreciate [Leonardo] Bonucci, so between them they are among the best centre-backs in Europe,” he said earlier this season.

“I could join them at Juventus, but we'll see at the right moment. For now, I am focused on Ajax and not my future. My agent is taking care of that.”

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

United arrive on scene

Manchester United are desperate to overhaul their defence this season and ahead of the end of the season there were reports they had also entered the race to sign the 19-year-old.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

De Ligt keeping coy

The defender appeared to confirm an impending move when he said: “I’m very excited for what could be coming in the near future.

“But I am calm too. I see it as a challenge, that’s the most important thing. There are various options, what I’m doing is looking for the best option.”

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Barca knocked back?

Ahead of Ajax's Champions League semi-final, the Dutch press began reporting that De Ligt had not yet decided on whether to move to Barcelona or not and was keeping his options open.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Juve bid

According to Italian publication Tuttosport, Juve attempted to steal a march on their European rivals in early June by becoming the first club to make a formal offer to Ajax, with an opening offer of £75m.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

United told to wait

Meanwhile in the Dutch and English press, the story broke that De Ligt had told United to expect a decision on his future in the coming days.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

The long wait

Ahead of Holland's Nations League campaign, the player's future was still up in the air. Will he pick Barcelona, Manchester United or Juventus?

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

Revealed

De Ligt arrives in Turin for his Juventus medical after choosing to join the Italian champions.

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Matthijs de Ligt transfer timeline

The unveiling

Matthijs de Ligt is unveiled as a Juventus player after a £67.7m deal is agreed with Ajax.

Juventus

The 2006 World Cup winner returns to Turin on a free transfer, joining new recruits Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot at the club, as well as new manager and fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri.

Nineteen-year-old Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt – another target of Sarri’s – also appears to be nearing a move to the Serie A champions.

In his last spell at Juventus, Buffon won nine Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia crowns and five Suppercoppa Italiana trophies.

He also helped the club secure promotion from Serie B in 2007 after an enforced relegation due to the Calciopoli scandal.

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