Thursday 4 July 2019 18:43, UK
Gianluigi Buffon has completed his return to Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain, signing a one-year deal in Turin.
The 41-year-old World Cup winner, who spent 17 years with Juve prior to moving to Paris last summer, has passed a medical and will be understudy to former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for the coming season.
Buffon's deal will be for one season, but he will be expected to take on another role at the club when he retires.
"I'm happy to come back," he told Sky in Italy. "It's one of the happiest days for me. Today I had confirmation that life is really incredible."
His former No 1 shirt is currently taken by former Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny - so Buffon has announced he will be wearing the number 77 for the upcoming season.
"(Giorgio) Chiellini offered me the captain's armband and Szczesny the jersey No 1, but I'm here to give back, not take away," Buffon said. "I thought about number 77, it brought me luck in Parma, it tells my story."
The former Italy captain won nine Serie A titles at Juventus, including seven in a row between 2012 and 2019, making 656 appearances. He played 25 times for PSG last season and helped the club win their second successive Ligue 1 crown.
"I've decided to come back," said Buffon, in a lengthy post on his personal Instagram feed. "When family calls, the only possible answer is 'I'm here'.
"It's the beginning of a new stage of my long journey. I'm getting back to the place I'm proud to call home, and I'm doing it with unchanged spirit, endless love and absolute determination.
"This is a fresh start. Somehow different from the past, and yet filled with the same emotions and joy.
"I come back to Turin because I know I can play my part. I come back because you can't turn down an invitation from a Lady. I come back because this is my home!"
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