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Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci’s future is sure to be subject to rumors from now until next season, thanks in large part to the public row he had with head coach Massimiliano Allegri. The 29-year-old center back spoke afterwards about how the two of them ironed out their differences and that “things are now even better than they were before”, but at the same time he seemed unwilling to commit his future to the club.
“I don't know if the boss will go to the Premier League, but I'm owned by this club and the club will decide whether or not to sell me. I hope to honour the contract.”
-Leonardo Bonucci; source: Goal
At the same time, Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici has said that the ball is in Bonucci’s court.
“What the player wants is what really counts.”
-Fabio Paratici; source: Football Italia
So what does Bonucci want? Speaking after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Udinese, in which Leo scored the game-tying goal, it is to not leave Juventus, saying that if he had wanted to leave, he would’ve done so last summer when he was already studying English and had offers on the table. Both Chelsea and Manchester City were rumored to have submitted bids upwards of £50m for the best defender in the world.
#serieapremium#Bonucci: "Avevo ricevuto offerte, se avessi voluto andarmene, avrei spinto per farlo. Studiavo già l'inglese". @juventusfc pic.twitter.com/LRt8sX3NDp
— PremiumSportHD (@PremiumSportHD) March 5, 2017
“It’s all the same as before, I continue to fight for Juve and when needed can contribute with a goal. I am owned by the club, I have a contract with Juve to 2021 and feel important for the team, so I don’t see why there has to be a problem.”
“If I wanted to leave Juventus, I would’ve pushed to do it last year, as I had important offers over the summer and had already started studying English.”
-Leonardo Bonucci; source: Football Italia
That said, given the constant rumors around both the player and the head coach, Bonucci and Allegri may yet go their separate ways before next season. But it could be Allegri who might be coming to England, having been recently made the odds-on favorite to take over at Arsenal for lame duck Arsene Wenger.