Gianluigi Buffon Mocks Manchester United over Paul Pogba, Defends Iker Casillas

Juventus' legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has belittled former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to allow Paul Pogba to leave Old Trafford in 2012 on a free transfer.

Pogba was allowed to join Juve from United after Ferguson offloaded the young Frenchman, who was frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities and the terms of a new contract. 

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The 22-year-old has become one of the world's best players since his switch to Serie A, and on Wednesday evening he faces Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg—Juve lead the tie 2-1.

As far as the 37-year-old Buffon is concerned, Pogba's quality was there for all to see from an early age, and he cannot believe Ferguson let him go, via Richard Tanner in the Express:

"

I have been in football many years, but the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to not play Pogba and let him leave is one of the strangest decisions I have ever seen. 

Just after a few training sessions we saw how good he was, it cannot have been the same player they saw in Manchester—we thought they may be needed glasses (sic). 

I have never seen a player who is so good at his age, he is so strong, so technically gifted, has exceptional all-round play. Pogba can do things only Pogba can, similar to Messi and Ronaldo. United let one of the top players in the world leave, but that has only been good news for us.

"

Pogba is set to be the subject of the upcoming summer transfer window's biggest stories and bids.

He has already been widely linked with the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and a potential return to United, according to Richard Parry of the Evening Standard.

Indeed, beIN Sports' Tancredi Palmeri has already reported an apparent bid from Barcelona of €80 million (£57 million) for the France international:

A reported bid has also come in from Paris Saint-Germain, with Bleacher Report's French football correspondent Jonathan Johnson assessing the winners and losers from such a potential deal:

While obviously aware of the interest in his team-mate, Buffon insists that only a bid that beats the current world-record transfer fee—currently the £85 million Real paid for Gareth Bale in 2013—will prise Pogba from Juve, via Tanner: "Of course he will be linked with the teams with big money like Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and City but at the moment he is achieving dreams at Juventus. If any team wanted to buy him I would feel sure that they would have to break the world-record fee."

Pogba will be key for Juventus as they face Real at the Bernabeu on Wednesday looking to protect their 2-1 lead from the first leg.

Pogba was injured for the first clash but is set to start as Juve bid to join Barcelona in the Berlin final at Real's expense, per B/R UK:

Real's Iker Casillas has come under significant scrutiny recently after a dip in form, but Buffon has defended his fellow shot-stopper ahead of Wednesday's huge clash, via Marca: 

"

There are certain iconic figures that don't deserve this attitude. It is an unpleasant and outrageous thing for a professional like him, who has always given his all. For twenty years he has given so much for the Real Madrid shirt. Regardless of whether things are going well or not, there are icons that don't deserve this kind of treatment.

"

Casillas and Buffon are two of the most experienced and respected goalkeepers in the world, both captains of their respective clubs and countries.

With Wednesday's Madrid clash set to be very tense and likely decided by just a single goal, both keepers could play key parts in deciding the outcome of the tie and the second Champions League finalist for 2015.