The Italian icon that could've joined Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Pro League has grown tremendously since the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Nassr in early 2023. The move shocked the football community, and many did not understand why someone competitive like Ronaldo would move to a weak league with unknown competition compared to European competition. After the signing of Ronaldo, more football stars from Europe would join the Saudi Pro League, and now a couple of teams are stacked with talent. Players like Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Neymar, Mitrovic, and Ruben Neves have joined the league, and it is catching the attention of the football world.

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It wouldn't sound crazy for players now to make a move to the Saudi Pro League, as many players from Europe have done so in the past two transfer windows. One of the players who was close to making a move to the Saudi Pro League is an Italian goalkeeping legend. Gianluigi Buffon is a football legend who was close to making a move into the Saudi Pro League.

Buffon recently spoke about the league and said the level has increased thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo. Buffon said, "The Saudi League is wonderful; the competition has intensified, and the teams have become stronger in the presence of international stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema." When asked who his favorite team was, Buffon said, "There is no specific or favorite club for me... Ronaldo is a friend of whom I am proud, and Karim Benzema, with whom I have an excellent relationship, is an addition to the tournament."

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Buffon rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League last year

The Mail reported that last summer, Gianluigi Buffon was offered a $32 million-a-year deal to move to the Saudi Pro League. Buffon was 45 years old and played with his boyhood club, Parma, who plays in the Serie B. Buffon turned the offer down as he announced his retirement from football on August 2nd.