Buffon to United rumors brushed away by Juventus

(GSM) – Serie A giants Juventus have dismissed reports that goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is set to join Manchester United.

United are interested in luring a top goalkeeper to succeed their veteran shot-stopper Edwin van der Sar when he retires at the end of the season.

And reports have surfaced that the 18-time English champions are eying a swoop for Italy’s first-choice keeper.

Reports emanating from Italy suggested the 32-year-old was an €18million (£15.7m) target for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, and that the latter will be hoping to bring Buffon to Old Trafford in January.

However, Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta told Tuttosport: “I deny any negotiation with United, Buffon is a Juventus player.”

Buffon is currently out-of-action with a back problem and his contract runs until the summer of 2013.

The keeper’s agent Silvano Martini had already labelled the speculation as ‘nonsense’ earlier.