Truth & Rumors > Soccer

United, Bayern chasing Juve keeper

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Manchester United and Bayern Munich have reportedly taken a good look at Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with a view to making a bid for him in the summer.

goal.com

Gianluigi Buffon, Massimo Cebrelli/Getty Images Gianluigi Buffon, Massimo Cebrelli/Getty Images
November 4, 2009  10:06 AM ET

I can't imagine Buffon playing anywhere but Juventus, but one never knows. If he does make a move to one of these two, ManU strikes me as more likely because of the stage and league.

November 4, 2009  10:16 AM ET

Not going to happen. You want Buffon, you better to be ready to pay a lot of money.

November 4, 2009  10:23 AM ET

This rumor is pure garbage, particularly from the Bayern side. I have not heard anything regarding Buffon. I'm not even sure why Bayern would want him considering his age vs. price. Keepers Bayern is interested in: Manuel Neuer, Rene Adler, Igor Akinfeev, Steve Mandanda (from Marseille), and Sebastian Frey. My top two choices would be Adler and Frey.

I've also heard numerous rumors that Manuel Neuer is being tapped to replace van der Saar at MANU.

November 4, 2009  10:38 AM ET

LOLOLOLOLOL ... maybe when he's through after 2014 (he's only 31, is a conditioning fanatic and keepers only get better with time) looking for a parachute payment. Did you see that save he made yesterday in the 28th minute? Iker Casillas, my arse! Forza Buffon, the world's number one.

November 4, 2009  10:49 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

This rumor is pure garbage, particularly from the Bayern side. I have not heard anything regarding Buffon. I'm not even sure why Bayern would want him considering his age vs. price. Keepers Bayern is interested in: Manuel Neuer, Rene Adler, Igor Akinfeev, Steve Mandanda (from Marseille), and Sebastian Frey. My top two choices would be Adler and Frey.I've also heard numerous rumors that Manuel Neuer is being tapped to replace van der Saar at MANU.

I don't see Frey leaving Fiorentina any time soon. He turned down several clubs this offseason and is extremely loyal to Prandelli. Playing football in Florence? You'd be mad to leave that lifestyle for rainy England or FC Hollywood.

Neuer only makes sense because finances are very tight at Schalke and Magath needs the funds to bring some stability to the club. Why Munich ever let him go is a mystery to me. Magath is easily the best manager in that league.

I keep hearing Akinfeev to Chelsea. SAF keeps bringing his name up but I think it's a ruse to see if Chelsea is really looking at him, because his name suddenly disappears off the radar when nobody at the Bridge says a word. Be careful with Mandanda ... he reminds me so much of Barthez in the sense that he'll make two or three remarkable saves only to lose it on you with a howler of a mistake.

November 4, 2009  10:54 AM ET
QUOTE(#2):

Not going to happen. You want Buffon, you better to be ready to pay a lot of money.

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November 4, 2009  11:01 AM ET

PS - on goalkeepers, they tend to fall into one of these categories:

1. force you to alter the way you play because the manager has no confidence in him
2. just good enough to keep you in the game, but he breaks your heart in the end (squandering 12-16 points a season with draws that should have been wins)
3. gives you a chance in every match because he saves what he supposed to save and is capable of stealing a PK battle or two)
4. steals you points when your team plays like crap (about 10-12 points a year)
5. so good that opposing players swear he's inside their heads and opponents will break down emotionally on the pitch (see: Mutu against Buffon in the 2008 Euros)

The last keeper who had the qualities of number five was Oliver Kahn.

November 4, 2009  11:03 AM ET

** The last keeper before Buffon who had the qualities ....

November 4, 2009  11:09 AM ET

haha yeah ... no.

November 4, 2009  11:18 AM ET

Sounds nice but I cannot picture Buffon leaving Juve.

November 4, 2009  11:23 AM ET

Buffon's not going anywhere.

United should go get Akinfeev.

November 4, 2009  11:26 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

I don't see Frey leaving Fiorentina any time soon. He turned down several clubs this offseason and is extremely loyal to Prandelli. Playing football in Florence? You'd be mad to leave that lifestyle for rainy England or FC Hollywood. Neuer only makes sense because finances are very tight at Schalke and Magath needs the funds to bring some stability to the club. Why Munich ever let him go is a mystery to me. Magath is easily the best manager in that league.I keep hearing Akinfeev to Chelsea. SAF keeps bringing his name up but I think it's a ruse to see if Chelsea is really looking at him, because his name suddenly disappears off the radar when nobody at the Bridge says a word. Be careful with Mandanda ... he reminds me so much of Barthez in the sense that he'll make two or three remarkable saves only to lose it on you with a howler of a mistake.

When your goal keeping lineage runs Sepp Maier, Walter Junghans, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Raimond Aumann, and Oliver Kahn you have to find someone worthy to live up to that tradition. Butt is a great back-up and fill-in, but Rensing can leave. Adler would really be the best choice. Lots of potential and could stay at Bayern for over 10 years. As for Frey, there have been rumors of him coming to Bayern for the last 9 years. Whenever there was talk of Kahn leaving, Frey was always the name brought up to replace him. He has very good relations with the Bayern leadership.

November 4, 2009  11:28 AM ET

I thought Akinfeev had no interest in leaving Russia?

I think Frey will eventually leave Fiorentina, but he's staying so long as they remain competitive in the Champions League. The second they don't finish in the Top 4, he's gone. Breaks my heart to say that.

November 4, 2009  11:28 AM ET
QUOTE(#11):

Buffon's not going anywhere.United should go get Akinfeev.

Neuer would be the much better choice for United and I think SAF will try to pick him up first. Asking price should be around 20 million euro. Schalke has already said they would sell him to ManU, not Bayern.

November 4, 2009  11:56 AM ET
QUOTE(#13):

I thought Akinfeev had no interest in leaving Russia?I think Frey will eventually leave Fiorentina, but he's staying so long as they remain competitive in the Champions League. The second they don't finish in the Top 4, he's gone. Breaks my heart to say that.

I don't see Fiorentina dropping out of Europe any time soon, not at least this year. With Roma not being able to sustain any measure of momentum, Milan and Fiorentina will be right there fighting it out for 3rd and 4th. Inter and Juve are just a bridge too far.

November 4, 2009  12:03 PM ET
QUOTE(#14):

Neuer would be the much better choice for United and I think SAF will try to pick him up first. Asking price should be around 20 million euro. Schalke has already said they would sell him to ManU, not Bayern.

Neuer, to me, has a "sky's the limit" potential, which makes him the most attractive keeper prospect in Germany. You know what you're getting with Adler and Butt - very stable at the position - but the one who can really steal points in my mind is Neuer.

Schalke over the last couple of years has relied too much on defenders going forward to build their attack and the weight has clearly fallen on Neuer's shoulders. About 18 months ago I watched him in a Champions League match against FC Porto and he stole that game. Very quick laterally and can get to balls some keepers can't reach.

November 4, 2009  12:39 PM ET

This is the most ridiculous story they've put up here in a long time, and that's saying something. Gigi ain't leaving Juve for United or Bayern. If United want a new keeper, they should be looking at the guy between the posts yesterday.

November 4, 2009  12:43 PM ET
QUOTE(#13):

I thought Akinfeev had no interest in leaving Russia?I think Frey will eventually leave Fiorentina, but he's staying so long as they remain competitive in the Champions League. The second they don't finish in the Top 4, he's gone. Breaks my heart to say that.

Your boys just signed a nice one last night: Ezequiel Munoz from Boca Juniors, 19 year old defender with some size and nice wheels.

November 4, 2009  12:44 PM ET

*** Your boys = Fiorentina

 
November 4, 2009  12:45 PM ET

From SkySports and ESPN: Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has been charged with tax evasion by the City of London Police. Wonder how long before he rolls over on Redknapp and the other members of the EPL mob.

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