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Football

15th Jul 2018

Gianluigi Buffon had a shocker of a debut for Paris Saint-Germain

That didn't go according to plan

Darragh Murphy

Gianluigi Buffon will see out his illustrious career with Paris Saint-Germain but his debut for his new side didn’t exactly go according to plan.

Buffon started in goal for PSG in their preseason friendly against French third tier side Chambly and conceded a penalty after just five minutes, which was then dispatched by Anthony Soubervie.

Just moments before half-time in the behind-closed-doors game, Buffon conceded a second goal and he was replaced at half-time of the match, which finished 4-2 in favour of Chambly.

While several of PSG’s first-team regulars were not present for the game, supporters felt the side should have been strong enough to come out on top.

It was suggested that Buffon decided to join the big-spending PSG in pursuit of Champions League glory because the Ligue 1 side are looking increasingly threatening in Europe with the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe fronting their attack. But perhaps Buffon made his decision before realising that Cristiano Ronaldo would be joining Juventus in the coming weeks.

Only time will tell if the decision to leave was the right one.

“I started well before PSG [chasing the Champions League],” Buffon said. “It is not an obsession for the club, but it is an interesting trophy.

“I accepted the offer because the conditions are right for me to progress as a player and as a man — I can help the club progress a little more.

“At the start of the season, we cannot immediately target only the Champions League — it would be madness.”