Gigli: We nearly sold Buffon to AC Milan

"[Milan CEO Adriano] Galliani may not remember, but years ago it was almost Buffon for Milan,” Gigli claimed. “We had set up an exchange Abbiati-Buffon but then for various reasons, it all came to nothing." Meanwhile, Gigli lamented the fact that Alessandro Del Piero has been reduced to the role of a bit-part player at Juventus since the arrival of Antonio Conte as coach last summer and is dismayed the legendary No.10 is set to depart Turin at the end of the season. "Del Piero is indisputable," he argued. "I would suggest as a fan that maybe he should have a more substantial role, rather than just a few seconds at the end of every game. "Alex is a champion. When I was president he was the top scorer in Serie B and then Serie A the year after and I also remember with pleasure his two goals in Madrid [in the Champions League in 2008]. "I'm sorry that he will leave after this season." The aforementioned Buffon joined Juventus from Parma for a reported €40 million in 2001, while Del Piero has been at the club since arriving from Padova in 1993.