According to Tuttosport . , Juventus have joined Manchester United in the race for Mandzukic with Buffon making contact with the striker during their recent Euro 2016 qualifying match, urging him to join the Champions League runners-up
Mandzukic is certain to leave Atletico Madrid this season after just one year under Diego Simeone, with the Madrid club on the verge of securing a coupe with Carlos Tevez and Luciano Vietto making a move to the Calderon.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for the Croatian, but, Juventus have thrown their hat in the ring for the forward following reports of exits of both, Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez.
According to Tuttosports, Buffon tracked Mandzukic down as he was getting on the bus after Italy played Croatia in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
And while it was thought that the 37-year-old was preparing to confront Mandzukic over a clash that left him needing 10 stitches, Buffon actually had a conversation urging the player to join Juventus.
The four minute conversation ended with big smiles, a pat on the back and a handshake.
Manchester United and Zenit Saint Petersburg have both been linked with moves for the Atletico Madrid’s forward who has not been in the best books of manager Diego Simeone., who has angered Diego Simeone this season.
Zenit have lodged a A?20m bid for Mandzukic according to various sources. Atletico had signed the player for A?18.5m when he left Bayern Munich a year ago.
And while Juventus are not thought to be prepared to match that offer, they hope Buffon’s chat may have aided their cause or will hope to secure the player in a part exchange deal should Carlos Tevez move the other way.
Simeone had said earlier in the week that Mandzukic annoys him: “He annoys me easily, that’s the reality. He is a great player and a decent lad. He himself is down about not maintaining the form he displayed up until February.”
“We sat down together and aimed to improve on his record of 28 goals at Bayern. This wasn’t possible and it upset him.”
A move for Mandzukic depends on a lot of factors, including a possible move for Tevez to Calderon or the player himself requesting to move. Could very well happen.