novelraw Chapter 896 - 617: Buffon's Comeback and Two-Hour Lightning Reversal! Deleted Post Overnight: I'd Rather Go Back to the Countryside and Farm!
Chapter 896 - 617: Buffon's Comeback and Two-Hour Lightning Reversal! Deleted Post Overnight: I'd Rather Go Back to the Countryside and Farm!
Tang Long officially announced his return to Serie A, and the entire Inter team was overjoyed.
The old captain, Ranocchia, even retracted his retirement announcement, renewing his contract with Inter for just 500,000 Euros for another year, just to fulfill his dream of playing alongside Tang Long.
"We haven't played together for seven years," Ranocchia, with tears in his eyes, said at the signing site to reporters, "Tang Long's arrival has rejuvenated me. I've never felt so empowered today; I feel I can still fight!"
However, where there is joy, there is also concern. Tang Long's return has caused Serie A opponents to shudder.
One thing is no longer a secret in the world of football.
Who is the goalkeeper most afraid of Tang Long worldwide?
It's not Courtois, who opened the goal four times in the Champions League final for Real Madrid;
It's not De Gea, the Manchester United goalkeeper who retired early because of Tang Long;
And it's certainly not Barça's Ter Stegen, who was left dizzy and cerebellum-atrophied by Tang Long's sway.
It's Buffon!
Juventus goalkeeper Buffon!
When it comes to the grudges and conflicts between Buffon and Tang Long, it could take three days and three nights to describe;
It could fill a 600-page tome or become a blockbuster Hollywood movie with its twists and turns.
Just being tricked by consecutive three times of Panenka penalties took Buffon's dignity away, becoming a mark of shame that this famous Italian goalkeeper can never erase! Tang Long has certainly given Buffon a psychological shadow.
Originally, 47-year-old Buffon, in a semi-retired state after announcing his retirement in Parma two years ago, was living a happy and peaceful life on the countryside farm at his hometown. But an opportunity prompted Buffon to announce his return.
After years, the Palermo team, returning to Serie A, took a liking to Buffon, wanting him to join the team.
Palermo has a strong offensive power, ranking first in Serie B last season, but they conceded an average of 1.6 goals per game.
Their terrible defense barely allowed them to advance to Serie A.
The boss is worried about the team's defense in Serie A, believing they need an experienced veteran goalkeeper to start.
Buffon was quite excited when he received the invitation.
"Haha, I've been retired for two years, yet there's a Serie A team interested in me, seems like it's not time for retirement yet!"
Unwilling to admit age, Buffon immediately accepted Palermo's invitation, signing a one-year contract with the team.
Buffon actually knows clearly, at his age nearing 50 and a lifestyle without regular training for two years, attempting to play in giants like Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain is entirely impossible.
However, facing a team like Palermo, his past experience could essentially be dominant!
Having laid back for two years at his hometown, Buffon also wanted to take this chance to join a small team like Palermo, to relive the feeling of being a "big shot" with Juventus and Parma before.
[I've kept my ambitions during these two years of retirement. I announce that next season I will be back on Serie A's field.]
When Buffon posted this status on his social media, the whole Apennine Peninsula exploded!
For many Italians, Buffon is synonymous with the goalkeeper, forever the guardian god of their national team.
Although Buffon is old, his comeback is undoubtedly a good thing for many of his fans who love him.
In reality, not only Italian football but the entire world football eagerly anticipates Buffon's return.
After playing for Juventus for 19 years, Buffon first moved to Paris Saint-Germain, then briefly returned to Juventus before joining Parma.
Despite wandering away from Juventus, Buffon still had excellent performances, even capable of being the backbone for teams, becoming the key player deciding wins and losses.
For a time, the world of football sang praises for Buffon, saying old soldiers never die!
Buffon was filled with ambition for his Serie A journey again.
However soon after, an unexpected change shattered Buffon's plans, stunning him completely.
"What? That guy went back to Inter???"
When Buffon swiped to see this official news at home, it felt like a thunderbolt had struck his mind, almost crushing Buffon.
Buffon has seen all kinds of situations in his life; he has won the Champions League runner-up three times.
No one has ever made Buffon feel such fear like Tang Long.
In fact, just the mention of Tang Long, whether by someone else or in Buffon's own mind, his body starts to tremble uncontrollably.
Those unbearable memories like film scenes vividly emerge in the nearly 50-year-old Buffon's mind.
He still remembers every scene of fighting Tang Long, remembers how Tang Long used consecutive Panenka penalties to humiliate him, wiping his face clean, becoming ridicule and a joking matter among many Inter fans over meals.
Scoring by Panenka is something Buffon had experienced with Zidane before, but doing it three times in a row, the intent was obviously to mess with him.
In reality, Tang Long didn't just defeat Buffon with Panenka penalties.
Whether at Inter or Manchester City, as long as facing Juventus, Buffon would become a victim under Tang Long's feet; extraordinary goals came one after another.
This Buffon, like Joe Hart, glaringly became a backdrop for Tang Long, highlighting Tang Long's greatness.
"Forget it, forget it, I'll just go back to the countryside to herd cattle!"
Buffon quickly took out his phone and deleted that declaration of a comeback from his social media.
But the internet remembers; Buffon's declaration, though existing for less than two hours, had already been screenshotted by many fans worldwide.
People speculated, puzzled by the sudden deletion of content promising a comeback after it was stated. Was there a change?
Even Italy's famous transfer reporter Romano was puzzled.
It's noteworthy, compared to Buffon's self-announcement, Romano had already issued his trademark "here we go" message a day earlier, declaring Buffon was about to make a comeback in Palermo.
Curious people ponder and imagine, and soon someone linked Tang Long's return and Buffon's deleted social media, concluding: Buffon was scared away by Tang Long!
Face-conscious Buffon wouldn't admit it like this.
However, Palermo's boss, faced with Buffon's request to rescind the signed contract, was furious, strongly refusing.
"Do you think Palermo is a marketplace? You come and go as you please? You've signed a contract, you have to fulfill it!"
He added: "Oh my, old B, consider I owe you a favor; you need to help us stay in Serie A!"
With both stern and soft approaches, Palermo's boss finally persuaded Buffon to stay.
The team's official website promptly published the signing photos with Buffon.
Football matters blur between reality and rumors; truth and lies, Buffon's mindset remains a mystery outside speculations; nobody can pinpoint it.
But one thing is certain: in the 2025-2026 season, Buffon will certainly have a tough time.
Because he has to stand on the goal line again and face the lifelong nemesis of his career — Inter Milan player Tang Long!