Former Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci looks back on his controversial transfer from Juventus to Milan in the summer of 2017, which was followed by a surprising return to Turin a year later.
The 37-year-old has recently put an end to an illustrious career that included stints at the three biggest clubs in Italian football (Juventus, Milan and Inter), in addition to great exploits with the Italian national team.
But at club level, the 37-year-old will be forever associated with the Bianconeri. Bonucci had two memorable and largely successful spells in Turin between 2010 and 2023, but it was interrupted by a solitary campaign spent at Milanello.
During his appearance on Sky Calcio Club (via MilanNews), the retired defender admitted that he left Juventus after clashing heads with his manager Massimiliano Allegri, and decided to remain close to home due to his son’s illness at the time.
I went to Milan because due to the infamous disagreement with Allegri. I still wanted to stay close to home because of the well-known events related to my son. I didn’t feel like going abroad because when you change countries, there’s always some uncertainty.
But following a single campaign, the Rossoneri directors decided to show him the door.
I went to Milan because a new cycle was starting. Mirabelli and Fassone made 12 new signings. But then, at the end of the season, when everything fell apart, they told me ‘there’s no more room for you here’.
Afterwards, Bonucci jumped at the opportunity to rejoin Juventus and was reconciled with Allegri.
I wanted to return to Juventus. I didn’t want to leave in the first place, but there was a negative energy between the manager and I, so one of us had to leave. Allegri had renewed after the Champions League final. We all agreed that it was best to part ways.
It was impossible to get everything back in order without splitting paths. But when I returned, my rapport with the coach was better than ever before.
The Euro 2020 winner explained why he had to reject the opportunity to join Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
I’m a correct and sincere person. Pep Guardiola wanted me both in 2016 and 2017 when I went to Milan. Obviously in 2016 it didn’t materialize for one reason: because Juve would never have sold me and I was happy to stay.
In 2017, Montella and Mirabelli called me and told me ‘You have to come here, you will become the Milan captain’. I didn’t want to leave Italy, in those days, when I had given a basic ok to Milan, both PSG and Manchester City called me but I didn’t want to break my word.
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