Arrivederci, Buffon: Where Will 'Gigi' End Up?

According to TuttoSport, Juventus goalkeeper and Italian international star Gianluigi Buffon is reportedly seeking a transfer out of Serie A following Juventus F.C’s downfall this season.

The Italian goalkeeper, who won the World Cup in 2006, has stayed loyal to the club his whole career since he joined the club in 2001, even when Juventus was relegated to Serie B following the Calciopoli (Soccer scandal) in 2006. It appears this time, though, that he’s changed his mind.

The clubs interested in ‘Gigi’ are reported to be Manchester City and Arsenal. There have been many notable players who have left Juventus to go on and continue their careers with other prestige football clubs, like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Inter Milan.

So what success will Buffon achieve if he is to leave the Bianconeri at the end of this season?

Here are some former Juventus players who have gone on to leave the Torino-based club.

Roberto Baggio ( 1990-1995) 

Considered by many to be one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time, Baggio’s tenure in Juventus was successful. He helped them win a Scudetto (Italian championship) in 1995 and clinched a spot in the UEFA Cup. Baggio was then transferred to A.C Milan in 1996, where he saw more success winning a Scudetto once again. Baggio was transferred two more times before the end of the decade. He landed with Inter Milan, appearing in 18 matches and scoring a season low of four goals. He retired in 2004.

Thierry Henry ( 1999 )

The Frenchman, known for his fast footwork and speed, only stayed a year in Torino, tallying three goals in 16 appearances. He then moved to the English Premier League where he played for Arsenal and became a world-class footballer, helping the team win the Premier League title in 2003 and 2004. Henry was then transferred to Spanish giant Barcelona in 2007 where success continued to follow the French striker. Barcelona won Champions League and La Liga in 2009.

Zlatan Ibrahamovic ( 2004-2006 )

The Swedish striker spent two years on Juventus, where he gained recognition and a spot in the starting eleven due to David Trezeguet’s injuries. His first season with Juventus brought nothing but success as he finished the season with 16 goals. Following the Serie A scandal that saw Juentus get relegated, Ibrahamovic left for Inter Milan, becoming a standout player in Serie A and earning a numerous amount of praise from critics. He captured three straight Scudettos with Internazionale before transferring to Barcelona in 2009, where he’s already won La Supercopa de Espana.

Zinedine Zidane ( 1996-2001 )

Widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, Zidane found success on the pitch with Juventus throughout the mid 1990’s. His positional play and fine playmaking skills earned Juventus back-to back Scudetto’s in 1996 and 1997, including an Italian Super Cup. Zidane left Italy to join Real Madrid, dubbed “ Los Galacticos,” in 2001. That same year Zidane captured La Liga with Madrid, but never achieved the same success during the rest of his time in Spain. Zidane retired from international and club soccer in 2006.

Based on the careers these players have had playing for Juventus, it’s hard to believe Gianluigi Buffon wouldn’t achieve the same success. Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world today, Buffon would attract attention from the best football clubs in the world. A transfer to the English Premier League would gain the 32-year-old more exposure and recognition and would solidify his place as the best goalkeeper in the world, in arguably the best league in the world.