Buffon says defence will cost City top four spot

ONE-TIME Man City goalkeeping target Gianluigi Buffon says he is glad he turned down the Light Blues, because their defenders are not good enough.

The Juventus and Italy star was a target for City after Sheikh Mansour’s takeover gave first Mark Hughes and then Roberto Mancini the funds to go after any player in the world.

But the 32-year-old never seriously considered a switch to the Premier League big-spenders, and believes he has made the right decision. He insists City will not even make the Premier League top four this term unless they sign two world-class defenders before the transfer window slams shut.

Buffon said: “I knew of Manchester City’s interest in me a couple of years ago and, while I was never close to signing, I can now see that I made the right decision.

“They have signed some great players but I get the feeling they are signing great players for the sake of signing them. Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Yaya Toure and a few others would make it into any squad in the world.

“But they don’t have one defender that would even get near the Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United team.

“Great teams are always built from the back and I am really surprised they are not trying to do that, considering their coach is an Italian.”

The World Cup and four-time Serie A winner added: “Whenever I have been successful for either club or country it’s because I have had great defenders in front of me.

“Players like Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro.

However, Buffon believes current number one Joe Hart can be a world beater. He said: “They do really have a great keeper in Joe Hart. I don’t see any reason why, in five years when (Real Madrid’s) Iker (Casillas) and I are old men, he can’t be the best in the world.”