Gianluigi Buffon confirms Paris Saint-Germain departure

Buffon arrived in Paris last summer

Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he is to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month, a year after joining the French champions from Juventus. Buffon had been expected to retire last summer after his contract in Turin expired, but surprised many by opting to play on for PSG. "I leave happy to have enjoyed this experience which has undoubtedly helped me to grow," the 41-year-old said in a statement. "Today my adventure outside Italy comes to an end. "Ernest Hemingway wrote that there are only two places in the world where people can live happily: at home and in Paris. Today onwards, this will also apply to me: Paris, in some way, will always remain my home... Allez Paris!" Buffon, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, was thought to have joined PSG in a bid to win the Champions League having never won the European Cup while with Juve - he lost the 2003 final on penalties to AC Milan. PSG failed to make it to the quarter-finals of this year's competition, however, beaten by Manchester United in dramatic circumstances at the Parc des Princes in the last 16 stage. Ironically, Buffon's replacement may well have been the man in the opposite goal to him that night. David De Gea has failed to agree a new deal with United and can leave the club on a free next summer. PSG may decide to move for him this summer, however.