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Buffon has 'no regrets' over Barcelona snub
Jan 24, 2013 10:00:00 PM
The Bianconeri skipper insists turning down the opportunity to join the Catalan giants in 2001 was the right one, despite the unrivaled success of the Blaugrana in recent years
| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £57.50 | Draw £45.00 | Barcelona £15.71 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £55.00 | Draw £37.50 | Barcelona £16.20 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £55.00 | Draw £42.00 | Barcelona £15.71 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £60.00 | Draw £41.00 | Barcelona £15.30 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Espanyol £55.00 | Draw £40.00 | Barcelona £15.70 |
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The Italy shot-stopper had the chance to join Barca in 2001, whilst at Parma, but opted to switch to Juventus for €39 million, a record fee for a goalkeeper.
And despite the success that the Catalans have enjoyed recently, Buffon insists he made the right decision.
"I do ask myself what my career would have been like now and again," the 34-year-old told reporters. "But Barcelona only started winning in 2006. Five years without winning anything is a long time.
"Seeing how my career has developed, I have no regrets."
Buffon signed an extension to his contract on Wednesday, which will see the goalkeeper stay with the Turin outfit until June 2015.
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Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
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However, Dortmund simply cannot be discounted. They relish the role of underdogs and are not in the least bit afraid of their illustrious rivals, having now gone six Bundesliga games without defeat against die Roten. The last time these two met in a final, in last season’s DFB Pokal, Dortmund ran out 5-2 winners. As coach Jurgen Klopp pointed out this week: “We’re not the best team in the world, but we can beat the best team in the world."
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Bayern, of course, start as overwhelming favourites to prevail this evening, and understandably so. Not only did they mercilessly batter Barcelona into a shockingly tame capitulation at Camp Nou, they are also coming off the back of a record-breaking Bundesliga campaign which they finished a staggering 25 points clear of runners-up Dortmund, whom they are unbeaten against in four meetings this season.
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So, what do you think? Who will prevail this evening? Are Bayern going to banish the memory of last year’s devastating and inexplicable loss to Chelsea at the Allianz Arena? Or are Dortmund going to defy the odds once again and go from the brink of bankruptcy to Champions League winners in just eight years? Get in touch via Facebook and Twitter and I’ll be sure to post the best comments in here.
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Finals do not get much more appetising either. What we have here tonight is a game between the two best sides in Europe this season. There is just simply no disputing that. Dortmund have been beaten just once on their remarkable run to the final (quite the feat when you consider they were grouped with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax), while Bayern have sparked giddy talk of a new era of die Roten dominance akin that enjoyed by the Bavarians in the 1970s by dismantling the likes of Juventus and, in particular, Barcelona on their way to Wembley.
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That’s right, in the same year that one of the most iconic venues in the game turns 90 and the Football Association marks its 125th anniversary, two German sides will battle it out for the right to lift the most prestigious prize in club football at the home of English football. For those with a twisted sense of humour, irony does not get any more delicious than this!
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