Gianluigi Buffon branded a 'mercenary' by Parma fans in a banner

Gianluigi Buffon is told ‘you left as a mercenary, you cannot return as a hero… honour the shirt’ by furious Parma ultras as they blast goalkeeping icon’s return to the club 20 years after his then world-record move to Juventus

  • Gianluigi Buffon re-joined Parma on Wednesday after leaving the club in 2001
  • On Friday, some Parma fans hung up a banner voicing their anger at his return
  • The 43-year-old goalkeeper has signed a two-year deal with the Serie B outfit


Gianluigi Buffon’s move back to Parma was painted as fairytale bookending to his illustrious career by everyone – however, it seems that his return hasn’t been entirely welcomed.

Buffon re-joined Parma on Wednesday, signing a two-year deal with his first club – 20 years after leaving for Juventus.

However, on Friday a section of the club’s supporters voiced their displeasure at the legendary goalkeeper’s return.

Parma fans hung up a banner on Friday voicing their displeasure at Gianluigi Buffon's return

Parma fans hung up a banner on Friday voicing their displeasure at Gianluigi Buffon’s return

Buffon re-signed for his boyhood club on Wednesday, signing a two-year deal with them

Buffon re-signed for his boyhood club on Wednesday, signing a two-year deal with them

Buffon won the UEFA Cup with Parma

He left for £33million to Juventus

Buffon made 220 appearances and won two major trophies for Parma between 1995 until 2001

Hanging a banner outside the club’s Stadio Ennio Tardini, the message bluntly read: ‘You left as a mercenary, you cannot return as a hero… honour the shirt’.

Buffon, who is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all-time, began his career as a youth player at Parma aged 13 in 1991 and made his Serie A debut as a 17-year-old four years later.

He soon established a glowing reputation, helping his club win the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia in 1998-99.

Despite that success, it’s clear that some fans have still not forgiven the 43-year-old in how he left for Juve two decades ago to became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, at the time, in a deal worth around £33million. 

Buffon, who made 220 appearances for the club, will look to win over those supporters next season as Parma try to bounce back to Serie A after suffering relegation to Serie B this term. 

Buffon left Parma in 2001 for Juventus - a transfer that still rankles with the former's fanbase

Buffon left Parma in 2001 for Juventus – a transfer that still rankles with the former’s fanbase

‘From the first moment I shared the idea of a return to Parma with Gigi, I understood from looking him in the eyes that it was an emotional one for him,’ Parma sport director Javier Ribalta said.

‘He is committed, he wants to work, he knows this place. Parma is his home.

‘We are proud that we can count on him. Seeing him come back to the club where his incredible career began will be a beautiful thing, and we know there are more pages still to write in his story.’ 

‘We are thrilled to welcome Gigi Buffon home,’ Parma president Kyle Krause said.

‘We are going to bring this legendary club back to its rightful place. Buffon´s return is another validation of that ambition. It´s a really special moment for all of us.’ 

Buffon will be hoping to guide his boyhood club back to Serie A after this season's relegation

Buffon will be hoping to guide his boyhood club back to Serie A after this season’s relegation

source: dailymail.co.uk