10 Players Who Rejected Barcelona
3. Gianluigi Buffon
13 years ago, Gianluigi Buffon became the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of football when Italian giants Juventus shelled out £39 million to prize him away from the clutches of Parma. Just last week, the 6ft 3in World Cup-winning goalkeeper completed his 500th game for I Bianconeri, having stayed with the club through thick and thin - which included a brief stay in Serie B following the clubs involvement in the infamous Calciopoli scandal.
Hailed as one of the finest shot-stoppers of the modern era, interest from Europes elite clubs was never going to be far away, and the giant Italian has admitted that he came close to joining Barcelona before his blockbuster move to the Stadio del Alpi.
''I could have joined Barcelona in 2001. However, I decided to join Juventus after discussing it with my father and Im still grateful for it. Being at Juventus is a unique experience and has brought me a lot of satisfaction. And lets not forget that Barcelona back then were nothing like the team they are now. - Gianluigi Buffon, October 2013.
Indeed, the Catalans had barely snuck into the final Champions League spot on goal difference, finishing an unimpressive 17 points behind the champions Real Madrid. A season without silverware, having been dumped out of the Champions League in the group stage, and Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup in the semi-finals, perhaps it was a more logical choice for Buffon to link up with Carlo Ancelottis Serie A runners-up.