Premier League Giants Receive Huge Boost In Bonucci Pursuit
REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino
Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City have received an enormous boost in their pursuit of Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci.
Bonucci, the man regarded by many as the best center-back in the world at the moment, has been linked with a move to England for quite some time now. Many reliable news sources expected the defender to follow his former Juve teammate Paul Pogba to the Premier League last summer, but he insisted on staying with the Italian giants, so as to help them win the Champions League.
However, things have drastically changed this month, following Bonucci’s falling out with Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.
The duo clashed during Juve’s 4-1 win over Palermo, when Allegri was heard shouting “Shut up, dickhead. F**k off!” at the Italy international. The argument continued further in the dressing room, following which Bonucci was excluded for the Serie A outfit’s midweek Champions League clash against FC Porto as punishment.
However, following an apology from the center-back, Allegri has now welcomed the 29-year-old back, by putting their differences behind them.
“The issue is definitely over,” Allegri stated in his press conference (via ESPN). “We decided together with the club and the president. These are things that happen. Leo is an important player and he apologized. The whole issue was already over before, and he is now available for selection again.”
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But as per some reports, this ‘making up’ between the two Italians is only believed to be a temporary fix, and Bonucci will indeed part ways with the Turin-based outfit at the end of the season.
Chelsea and Manchester City have therefore been alerted of his availability, and both teams are expected to go head-to-head for his signature come summer. In fact, a transfer battle between these two rich clubs could also result in the Italy international becoming the most expensive defender of all time.
With Bonucci having previously played under Conte, the Blues seem to have an upper hand on the Citizens, but with City’s need for defensive reinforcements being much greater than that of the current Premier League leaders, Guardiola and co. will surely go all out to secure the star defender’s services.
