Leonardo Bonucci

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci rebuffs AC Milan chairman
Berlusconi's jabs: 'We're a cut above'

Jun 10, 2015

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has weighed in on a row growing between his club and Serie A rivals AC Milan by suggesting that the Bianconeri's continued success is starting to make people angry.

Juve have dominated Italian football over the past four years, while Milan's last Scudetto title came back in 2011. However AC Milan chairman Silvio Berlusconi mocked Juve's failure to beat Barcelona in the Champions League final on Saturday saying that his club have a much better record in Europe.

"With me, Milan won the Champions League five times; in these years, Juve have only won one out of the five finals they played," he told Swiss TV channel RSI. "We will be back winning, and we will be back in Europe."

To do that, Milan must start to challenge Juventus once again, and Bonucci cannot see that happening in the near future.

"We're a cut above Milan right now because we've been winning for the past four years," Bonucci said at a news conference while on Italy duty. "We're starting to get on people's nerves. When Juve win, we become a nuisance.

"Juve are the most loved while at the same time being the most hated club. We knew that losing to Barcelona would lead to many of our opponents' fans revelling, and that has happened. It's part of football. All that matters is the affection of the millions of Juve fans throughout the world."

While Milan are looking to close the sizable gap between the two clubs next season, the signings of Paulo Dybala and Sami Khedira show that Juve are keen to separate themselves even further from the Rossoneri. Convincing Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez to stay would complete the puzzle, according to Bonucci, and allow them to believe they can go one step further by winning the Champions League next season.

"We all hope to see Tevez sat in front of his locker on July 20," Bonucci said. "If he stays, then we'll have an even greater chance of crowning this European dream we've got. Let's hope that Andrea continues. He's a great player and a great person, a man who makes the difference in the dressing room.

"We've laughed and joked about his tears after the Champions League final. They weren't a goodbye, they were just sadness at losing because winning would have been quite legendary."

[Socrates 7971]

Real Madrid Set For Meeting With Agent Of Juventus Defender

Jun 11, 2015

Real Madrid are all set to meet with the agent of Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci.

Los Blancos are in the market for a new defender, and the name of the Bianconeri’s solid Italian has reportedly been put forward by new coach Rafael Benitez.

Tuttosport report that a bid to test Juventus’ resolve is already being prepared, and that also the Spanish club are going to meet with the player’s agent at some point next week to gauge where the 2015 Champions League runner-up stands.

If other reports are to be believed, then Juventus could already be working on a replacement for the centre-back, with Massimiliano Allegri looking to bring in former Roma man Mehdi Benatia.

28-year-old Bonucci has featured in 162 Serie A fixtures since his 2010 move to Turin from Bari, hitting the back of the net on nine occasions.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci to extend with Juve

Jun 11, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci has reportedly agreed a contract extension with Juventus to June 2019.

The 28-year-old’s current deal has him tied to the Turin giants until 2017.

According to Sky Sport Italia, this extension would add two years and increase his wages to €3.5m per year plus performance-related bonuses.

Bonucci has been at the club since joining from Bari in July 2010 and quickly became a fan favourite.

He’s surprisingly prolific for a centre-back, mainly due to his strength in the air, scoring 14 goals in 225 games for Juve.

[Socrates 7971]

Leonardo Bonucci agree to contract
extension through 2019

Jun 13, 2015

If the post-Champions League final Juventus news and rumors have told us anything, it's that not only does the club want to add to what it already has, but also keep the current assets right where they are. As much as it is transfer rumor season, it's also apparently contract extension season at Juventus headquarters.

We've heard about the likely deals for manager Max Allegri. And the one for high-sock-clad Uruguayan known as Martin Cáceres. There's been plenty of talk about Claudio Marchisio renewing his deal, too. So, when there's another name that pops up on the list of contract extension candidates, I guess we shouldn't be all that surprised.

Enter Leonardo Bonucci, resident Juventus defender who just so happens to also have a knack for fending off world-be thieves whenever the situation calls for it.

Leonardo Bonucci is part of Juve's long term plans. Today the bianconeri agreed to an extension with the defender after a two hour meeting with his agent in Milano. Bonucci's new contract expires in 2019 and he'll earn €3.5 million net plus bonuses per season. Bonucci will stay in bianconero long term.

(Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)

Good. Very, very good. Very, very, very good.

Bonucci has become a central figure during Juventus' success the past three or four years. This season was especially true, with the Italian international being one of Juve's most consistent performers. And on top of that, Bonucci was one of the best central defenders in all of Europe. Who had that at the beginning of the season, eh? (Maybe some folks, but probably not the majority of footballing fanatics.)

But when you look at how he has progressed and how he has become as stalwart of a defender as Juventus currently has on its roster, why not extend his deal? At 28 years old, Bonucci still has plenty of years left in the tank. And with the way he has played this season and his continued improvement, you can't say he's earned a new deal and a nice raise.

Allegri isn't the only one on the Juventus payroll who deserves a raise for what they've done over the past season.

[Socrates 7971]

Real Madrid Prepare Shock Move For Bonucci

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/real-madrid-prepare-shock-move-for-juventus-defender/?

Jun 17, 2015

Real Madrid are reportedly considering a surprise move for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci.

The Spanish giants have so far expressed a desire to strengthen other areas of their squad but have now changed their transfer strategy in a bid to obtain a top-class defender.

Spanish newspaper AS have reported that Los Blancos will aim to sell Frenchman Raphael Varane in a bid to raise funds for the Italian international, despite the player apparently agreeing a new deal with Juventus.

It is stated that they hope to sell Varane to English Premier League side Manchester United for an estimated fee of €40 million and in return will use €30 million to make a bid for Bonucci.

The 28-year-old was signed by Juventus from Bari in July 2010 for a total of €15.5 million and has since became an integral member of the squad, this season becoming the Bianconeri’s joint most played player with 52 appearances.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci Expected To Sign Contract Extension

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/juventus-defender-expected-to-sign-contract-extension/?

Jun 23, 2015

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci could reportedly sign a contract extension in the coming days depending on the outcome of a meeting between his representatives and the Old Lady executives.

The 28-year-old, whose current deal with the Bianconeri is set to expire in June 2017, has seen himself linked with a shocking move to European giants Real Madrid lately, though it seems like his future may still be in Turin for now.

According to GianlucaDiMarzio.com, the Italian international’s agent will be meeting with the Juventus executives on Thursday with hopes of finally coming to an agreement regarding a new deal for the centre back, as talks in recent weeks have failed to produce anything concrete.

Reports suggest that Real Madrid may be looking to steal Bonucci from the Serie A champions if Sergio Ramos were to make his departure from the Primera Division club this summer, which could pose a serious threat to Juve’s mission to keep him.

The defender scored three goals in his 34 Serie A appearances last term.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: Conte Revived The Spirit Of Juventus

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/bonucci-conte-revived-the-spirit-of-juventus/?

Jun 27, 2015

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci believes that former coach Antonio Conte is responsible for reawakening the spirit of the Old Lady during his three-year stint at the helm of the club.

The Bianconeri were able to win three consecutive Serie A titles under the 45-year-old, who made his exit from the Turin giants in July 2014 and became head of Italy’s national team a month later, and Bonucci insists that the solid foundation laid by the tactician has helped the team fight to become one of the top clubs in Europe even after his departure.

Bonucci spoke to Tuttosport about Conte’s lasting contribution to Juventus and praised the current Azzurri boss for bringing a winning mentality back to the team.

“If you wanted to understand Juve’s mentality, just look at our historic phrase,” said the Italian international.

“It tells us that winning isn’t important, but it is the only thing that matters. Conte reawakened the spirit of this team when he had arrived in 2011.

“Juve was still made of many good players back then, but it lacked togetherness, along with a certain mentality.

“Antonio Conte brought us back to the top, he introduced a totally different way of thinking and the results are still seen.”

[Socrates 7971]

Real Madrid Interest Causes Delay In Bonucci Renewal

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/real-madrid-interest-causes-delay-in-juventus-defender-renewal/?

Jun 28, 2015

Real Madrid’s interest in Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has reportedly caused a delay in the player’s negotiations to sign a contract renewal with the Old Lady.

The 28-year-old, whose current deal with the Bianconeri is set to expire in June 2017, has been steadily linked with a possible move to Los Blancos in recent weeks and it seems like the Spanish giants are on the verge of making a very serious offer for his services.

According to Tuttosport, Juventus remain ready to extend the Italian international’s contract until 2019, though talks for a renewal have stalled now that Real Madrid are apparently prepared to sign him on a four-year deal worth €30 million.

Reports suggest that the Turin giants are keeping a close watch on Bayern Munich defender Mehdi Benatia in case of Bonucci’s departure and would be ready to bring the former Roma man back to Italy as soon as possible if necessary.

The centre back managed to score three goals in his 34 Serie A appearances for Juve last term.

[Socrates 7971]

Real Madrid Transfer News:
Leonardo Bonucci Bid Readied

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2510607-real-madrid-transfer-news-leonardo-bonucci-bid-readied-latest-on-isco-rumours?

Jun 30, 2015

Juventus’ hopes of extending Leonardo Bonucci’s stay in Turin may be scuppered by interest from Real Madrid, who reportedly see the Bianconeri star as a potential replacement for Sergio Ramos.

That’s according to Tuttosport (h/t AS), which wrote that Los Blancos would be willing to offer €30 million to land the Italy international and double the defender’s current annual salary, which currently stands at €2 million. Bonucci's current contract with Juve runs until 2017.

The piece also claims that new Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has cited Bonucci as a player who could potentially fill the void left by Ramos, should the defensive talisman decide to move to the Premier League this summer.

As noted by WhoScored.com earlier in the season, there’s nothing overly flashy when it comes to the Juventus centre-back:

WhoScored.com ✔@WhoScored
Raphael Varane: Only Leonardo Bonucci (73) has made more clearances in the CL this season than Varane (72)

They’re traits which will have surely endeared Benitez, a renowned pragmatist, to the defender. While Real are synonymous with offensive flair and fluid forward play, their new manager will be desperate to add some steel to a side that were a little ropey at the back last season.

In addition to Bonucci’s uncompromising defensive style, he’s a player that’s technically sound too. The Italian is a composed figure, capable of bringing the ball out from the back and playing short, incisive balls into midfield. It’s these kinds of abilities that have made the Italian such a fine foil for the rugged traits of Giorgio Chiellini at the heart of the Bianconeri back line.

[Socrates 7971]

Leonardo Bonucci set to announce
contract extension through 2020

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/27/9045207/report-juventus-leonardo-bonucci-set-to-announce-contract-extension

Jul 27, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci likes social media. He's good at it, therefore he has my blessings when continuing to do so. There isn't the volume of posts compared to, say, you or I, but Bonucci has a constant stream of contributions to the Twitter and Facebook landscape no matter what the topic really is.

I lede with this piece of information because of this other piece of information: Two days ago, Bonucci posted this little picture and photo caption, leaving us wondering, "Yeah, so Leo, what exactly are you talking about while taking a picture of all the trophies Juventus has won in its history?"


Leonardo Bonucci ✔@bonucci_leo19
To be continued...#finoallafineforzajuventus #vincereèlunicacosacheconta

Gee, I wonder what that might allude to...

One option could be the fact that he was going to leave for Switzerland and get ready to start another season with Juventus. Makes sense, doesn't it? But then again, we kinda figured that would happen because those Bonucci-Real Madrid rumors seemed rather, well, not very true at all. But the other option seems a little more logical, though. That would be Bonucci actually agreeing to and subsequently signing a brand new contract with Juventus.

Say, now that you mention it...

Khaled Al Nouss @KhaledAlNouss
Leonardo Bonucci will sign a new contract with Juventus until 2020 this week. He will earn €3.5m/yr. [GdS]

Ahhhhh, that seems like an understandable and very realistic reason for Bonucci to kinda-sorta subtweet us but pretty much give us a hint into what's going down in the future. I guess he's making us think more than anything else. I would say he's earned the right to have some fun on Twitter every so often.

Of course, this isn't the first we've heard about Bonucci getting a new contract after the best season of his Juventus career. Gianluca Di Marzio reported about six weeks ago that Bonucci and Juventus had agreed to a brand new contract. That came during a flurry of post-Champions League final reports that had a handful of Juventus folks — Martin Cáceres, Claudio Marchisio and Max Allegri — getting close or even agreeing to brand new deals that would keep them in Turin past the next couple of seasons.

We've seen Marchisio and Allegri get their new contracts, with a nice chunk of change along the way.

And it's safe to say that Bonucci certainly deserves to be the next in line for some more long-term security as well as that reported €3.5 million per season salary. He was fantastic last season and was arguably one of the best at his position in all of Europe. As Giorgio Chiellini struggled for any kind of consistent form, the complete opposite was true for Bonucci. As we quickly approach the 2015-16 season, Bonucci's importance on this new-look Juventus squad is even that much more important. He's close to being one of the elder statesmen now. Yeah, at the age of 28, too.

UPDATE: Juventus has announced both Bonucci and President Andrea Agnelli will be holding a press conference at 12 p.m. on Tuesday. You know it's something special going on when they bring the No. 1 guy in the building to the press conference.

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen
Live tweets here tomorrow from 12.00 CEST as Andrea Agnelli and @bonucci_leo19 meet the media at Juventus Center.

I sure wonder what that's all about...

Oh, right. Time to put two and two together, folks.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci announcement tomorrow?

http://www.football-italia.net/69779/bonucci-announcement-tomorrow?

Jul 27, 2015

Juventus will reportedly confirm a contract renewal for Leonardo Bonucci at a Press conference tomorrow.

The Italian international is currently contracted to the Bianconeri until 2017, but negotiations over an extension have been underway for some time.

Now SportMediaset is reporting that a Press conference will be held at Vinovo tomorrow, where a renewal until 2019 will be confirmed.

The media event is set to take place at midday in Italy, 11am GMT, and will see the central defender confirm he is staying in Turin, alongside President Andrea Agnelli.

Bonucci initially struggled to adapt to life with the Old Lady after moving from Bari in 2010, but has since become a mainstay of the Juve defence, and is regarded as one of the top defenders in Europe.

[Socrates 7971]

OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Leonardo Bonucci agree
to contract extension through 2020

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/28/9050595/juventus-leonardo-bonucci-contract-extension-serie-a

Jul 28, 2015

We always want the players who are of the most importance to Juventus to play like they're expected to. Some of the time it doesn't work out all that well, other times it works out better than we could have ever expected.

Leonardo Bonucci has been a target of criticism over the years. But in the season when Juventus won its fourth straight Serie A title and made a dream run to the Champions League final, Bonucci was one of the best on the team and in the game at his position. No worries of inconsistencies, no worries of the big-time mental lapses that bugged him earlier on in his Juventus career. None of that. He was good, damn good, and a huge part of why Juventus did so well last season.

Now he's getting rewarded for it.

Juventus announced on Tuesday afternoon that the 28-year-old Bonucci has agreed to a contract extension with the club through the 2019-2020 season. He's the second Juventus player to sign a five-year deal in the month of July, with midfielder and future captain Claudio Marchisio signing a long-term extension three weeks ago.

From juventus.com:

Leonardo Bonucci has today committed his long-term future to Juventus, renewing his contract for another five years which will keep him with the club until 2020

Few players have taken their game to the next level in the same way as Bonucci since he joined Juventus from Bari five years ago in 2010.

The defender's consistency at the back and his unrelenting year on year improvement have cemented his place at the heart of the Bianconeri's defence as well as making him a permanent fixture at international level.

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen
Agnelli: "I've seen @bonucci_leo19 grow over these five years, both as a player and person. It's been a real pleasure."

Bonucci, whose old deal was set to expire after the 2016-2017 season, will get a much-deserved raise as part of his brand new contract extension. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport reported Monday that Bonucci's annual salary will rise to €3.5 million a season after tax, putting him in the territory as one of the higher paid players on the current Juventus roster.

And based on all the turnover this summer, he is now one of Juventus' most tenured players.

Bonucci has gone from a young player who got his feet wet in Serie A with Bari to one of Juventus' most important players over the course of his five-year career in Turin. He used to be known for youthful mistakes that can be chalked up to inexperience, but not anymore. Bonucci's 2014-2015 season proved that he can make the step up to the elite group of defenders in Europe. He was consistent as consistent gets while only continuing to be a leader in a side full of them.

So, in other words, Bonucci being signing this contract extension is pretty much as deserved as one could be. And based on last season, it won't be the last time we talk about how good a player Bonucci has become.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: ‘Start of a new era’

http://www.football-italia.net/70210/bonucci-%E2%80%98start-new-era%E2%80%99?

Jul 28, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci says Juventus are beginning a ‘new era’ after he signed an extension until 2020.

The Bianconeri held a Press conference today to announce the defender’s new deal, and the Italy international reflected on the club’s current situation.

"It's the start of a new era,” he said.

“I'm here to offer my years of experience to help those who have joined the club.

"We've maintained our strong spine. This is vital for us to build on and go in search of further successes.

"Juventus have a long-term plan. We're seeing a new generation coming through with quality young players.

"Winning a fifth Scudetto in a row will be tough but we've got the right motivation to tackle this challenge.

"I've had plenty of great times in these past four years. The goal against Roma was an important moment.

"Daniele Rugani is a defender who will form an important part of the future for Juventus and Italy.

"I was delighted when Juve came calling in 2010, just as I am now. It's down to us to begin an even more successful era."

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci signs Juventus renewal until 2020

The Italian champions have confirmed that the 28-year-old will stay
in Turin for five more seasons as he chases more silverware.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/07/28/13951312/-?

Jul 28, 2015

Juventus have announced that Leonardo Bonucci has signed a new contract that will keep him tied to the club until June 2020.

The defender's previous deal was due to expire in 2017, but he has now committed his future to the Serie A champions by penning a three-year extension.

"We've spent five years alongside each other and we now look forward to the next five years that lie ahead," club president Andrea Agnelli commented on the 28-year-old centre-back's new deal.

"I've seen Leonardo grow over these five years, both as a player and person. It's been a real pleasure. Once this cycle draws to a close he will have been at Juventus for 10 years. It will be a joy to see how Leonardo helps bring through the youngsters.

"His contract renewal falls in line with our blueprint. We're proud of our group of Italian players."

Bonucci, meanwhile, has also voiced his delight with his new deal and is determined to help the club to more silverware in the years to come.

"It's the start of a new era. I'm here to offer my years of experience to help those who have joined the club.

"Juventus have a long-term plan. We're seeing a new generation coming through with quality young players.

"We've maintained our strong spine. This is vital for us to build on and go in search of further successes.

"I've had plenty of great times in these past four years. The goal against Roma was an important moment.

"Winning a fifth Scudetto in a row will be tough but we've got the right motivation to tackle this challenge."

The centre-back, who came through the ranks of the Inter youth academy, joined Juventus from Bari in 2010 and has since developed into a key figure for the Bianconeri. He has made over 200 appearances in all competitions for the Turin side.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: 'Juve stronger than setbacks'

http://www.football-italia.net/70421/bonucci-juve-stronger-setbacks?

Aug 1, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci said Juventus “must be stronger than these setbacks” against Lazio in the Italian Super Cup.

The Bianconeri go to Shanghai without first choice defenders Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini due to muscular injuries.

“They are certainly a big loss, both on and off the field, but we must be stronger than these unexpected setbacks because we are Juventus and we have to win,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

“We are working hard, putting fuel in the tank to be in the best condition to play Lazio for the Italian Super Cup on August 8.

“The new players are settling in very well, we’ve got an experienced figure like Mario Mandzukic who will be useful in major competitions, while the youngsters are embracing the Juventus mentality.”

Bonucci was speaking at the Stade Velodrome ahead of today’s friendly against Olympique Marseille.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: It Is Our Responsibility
To Stop Juventus Fans Booing

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/bonucci-it-is-our-responsibility-to-stop-juventus-fans-booing/?

Sep 24, 2015

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has told teammates that it is their responsibility to produce performances.

The Italy international was left seething after his night as Bianconeri captain was ruined by a stoppage time Frosinone equaliser, a turn of events which he finds to be unacceptable for a club steeped in glory.

“I would have liked my first experience as Juventus captain to have ended differently,” rued the 28-year-old on his Facebook page.

“Unfortunately, we find ourselves here with two points thrown away. No ifs, no buts.

“Let us leave the alibis to others and take responsibility to turn the fans’ boos into cheers at the final whistle.”

Bonucci’s passion for the club was clear as he issued an action plan for the Juventus of recent seasons to make a return.

“You need experience, we must bring back the hunger to bring the result home that has always come to those who have worn this glorious shirt, in Italy and in Europe.”

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: 'Conte bans complacency'

http://www.football-italia.net/74166/bonucci-conte-bans-complacency

Oct 11, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci assures Antonio Conte will keep Italy on their toes against Norway. “He’s already preparing.”

The Azzurri secured their qualification for Euro 2016 with a 3-1 victory in Azerbaijan on Saturday evening, while a point against Norway in Rome on Tuesday will be enough to ensure the top spot in their group.

“With Conte around, there is absolutely no risk of underestimating this game,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

“He’s already planning the match and told us he’ll outline everything on Sunday.

“This is the right mentality to have, because we all go out there to win every time.”

Norway need a victory to be sure of qualifying ahead of Croatia, who visit Malta in their final game.

The Scandinavians are already certain of at least a play-off berth as one of the best third-placed sides.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: 'Conte's Italy reborn'

http://www.football-italia.net/74192/bonucci-contes-italy-reborn

Oct 11, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci hit back at critics of Antonio Conte’s Italy. “It was reborn from the ashes of a disastrous World Cup.”

The Azzurri secured their spot at Euro 2016 with a 3-1 victory away to Azerbaijan and will top the group with at least a point against Norway on Tuesday.

“In the moments of difficulty, everyone loves to criticise the work of the players and Coach,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

“We have always known that we’d do well with Conte and we were proved right. We achieved qualification a round early and that is a great result for a side that was reborn from the ashes of a disastrous World Cup in Brazil.

“Now we all need to work together to achieve one objective, as this squad has a lot of quality. There are promising young players and elements of experience like Gigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi.

“It’s a good mix and qualification is a small step forward. Now we must prepare for a very difficult European Championship.”

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: ‘Less anxiety in Europe’

http://www.football-italia.net/74539/bonucci-%E2%80%98less-anxiety-europe%E2%80%99?

Oct 19, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci admits Juventus have more “anxiety” in Serie A compared to the Champions League.

The Bianconeri are 14th in the League following last night’s draw with Inter, but have won both of their games in Europe so far.

“What we have to do is remind everyone that when you wear this shirt, you have to fight until the end,” Bonucci told Sky.

“Are we thinking of the Scudetto? Now is not the time, we’re 14th, and we just have to concentrate on winning.

“We can’t do anything about the points we’ve dropped on the way, but we have to look forward with the confidence to improve.

“The goal is to close the gap to the top of the table, and progress in the Champions League. There’s still something missing, but we have no more excuses, they’re for losers.

“There’s still a long way to go in the League, there’s still time to come back, as long as we go onto the pitch knowing that victory is the only possible outcome for Juventus.

“I signed a renewal because I believe in this project, aware that I’m in a great team that wants to win. Now we have to play with pride and do as well as possible.

“In the League we possibly have more anxiety in our performances after this slow start. In Europe we play teams who face us head-on, and that allows us to show our quality as we did against Manchester [City] and Sevilla.

“Winning on Wednesday would be an important step, but anything can happen in the Champions League. Borussia have started to put results together after a difficult start, and it’ll be an intense game.

“They’ll try to punish us on the break, and we’ll have to be well-organised in defence, because we’ll have chances to score.”

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: Juventus Must Keep Winning And Remain Hated

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/bonucci-juventus-must-keep-winning-and-remain-hated/?

Oct 20, 2015

Leonardo Bonucci was adamant that Juventus must start to win again following their goalless draw away at Inter in the Derby d’Italia.

The star defender, who agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Turin until 2019, was adamant that the Bianconeri remain focused on getting results.

“We must look ahead, we are Juventus and we are obliged to win,” said Bonucci to Premium Sport.

“It must be in the heads of everybody at the club, from the staff to the players.”

Despite sitting in 14th place, the 28-year-old expects that Juve can build upon their 0-0 draw against Inter.

“It was a stimulus, we are Juventus and we cannot go a year without winning anything else beyond the Supercoppa Italiana,” added Bonucci.

“We know that Juventus are a hated team and that is not by accident, it’s because we win which is always the goal.”

[Socrates 7971]

Why Leonardo Bonucci Will Be the
Juventus Player to Watch in 2016

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2602458-why-leonardo-bonucci-will-be-the-juventus-player-to-watch-in-2016?

Jan 3, 2016

Juventus’s resurgence over November and December contained a number of excellent contributions, from Mario Mandzukic’s rich vein of goalscoring form to Gigi Buffon’s evergreen brilliance at the other end of the field.

Paulo Dybala’s importance to the current winning run was discussed at length here, but perhaps the most important figure for the Bianconeri as they head into the new year is none other than defender Leonardo Bonucci.

The former Bari and Genoa man was superb last term, arguably Serie A’s standout player in his position as he performed consistently throughout the campaign. Indeed, just last month the 28-year-old was voted into the Team of the Year by the Italian player’s association, per the giornalaccio rosa World website.

Donato Daniel Grossi @Donatog87
Congratulations to @bonucci_leo19 for winning Best right sided CB at the #GranGaladelCalcio yesterday. #Juventus

It was an honour he undoubtedly deserved, playing in 34 of Juve’s 38 league games last term and with the side failing to keep a clean sheet in any of the four games he missed. That should come as little surprise as he emerged as a genuine leader over the course of 2014/15, combining with a number of players to keep the back line as solid as possible.
According to statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, Bonucci did so while averaging 1.1 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 4.8 clearances per game, also winning a career-high 2.2 aerial duels in each of those outings.

He weighed in with some key goals too, netting in important league matches against AS Roma, Lazio and Milan, while a goal in the Coppa Italia against Fiorentina ultimately secured their passage to the final.
Yet despite relatively similar statistics this time around, he has undoubtedly not matched those same high standards over the first half of the current campaign. The same source shows Bonucci has maintained the same average number of tackles, an increased number of interceptions (2.9) but few clearances (3.6) and headers (1.6).

To watch Bonucci so far this term is to see a player with a little less confidence, as he showed in allowing Marco Borriello to open the scoring in Juve’s most recent match. The Carpi striker ran directly at his former team-mate, who subsequently backed up until a shot opened up and once again the Bianconeri conceded a soft goal.
The defender’s mistakes have not been as high-profile or as frequent as those seen from Giorgio Chiellini, nor has he been sent off yet as the latter was against Sassuolo in October. But Juve’s increased fragility—which arguably stemmed from their unsettled and injury-ravaged midfield—has undoubtedly affected Bonucci’s play.

As a result, the Viterbo native has turned into something of a bellwether for the side, and if he rediscovers his best form then it is likely the Bianconeri as a whole will follow suit. That narrow 3-2 win over Carpi also saw him net an own goal, but before that Juve boasted six clean sheets in Bonucci’s previous seven appearances.

Arguably the best of those came against Manchester City, helping the Old Lady to keep Sergio Aguero and Co. at bay in a 1-0 victory at Juventus Stadium. As the graphic in the tweet below highlights, Bonucci made one tackle, one interception, four clearances and completed 43 of his 50 pass attempts (86 percent).

Adam Digby @Adz77
Leonardo Bonucci (#JuveCity 25/11) 43/50 passes, 1 tackle, 1 int, 3 balls recovered, 4 clearances (via @StatsZone)

But the man himself is quick to deflect credit to the efforts of the group, as he explained the reasons behind Juve’s improved cohesion in interviews with Sky Italia and Mediaset Premium back in December.
“The credit for the defensive solidity is down to the coach and the whole team that works to protect us,” insisted Bonucci (h/t Football Italia). “This system does give us more confidence and that solidity allows the forwards to express themselves better.”

The same is undoubtedly true for Bonucci, and it seems as he goes, so goes Juve’s form, making him almost certainly the player to watch in 2016.

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: ‘Sarri playing mind games’

http://www.football-italia.net/78308/bonucci-%E2%80%98sarri-playing-mind-games%E2%80%99?

Jan 13, 2016

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci believes Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri calling them Scudetto favourites is “a bit of a mind game”.

The Bianconeri have climbed to second place in the table, but remain two points behind the Partenopei at the half-way point of the season.

Despite this, the Vesuviani Coach insists that the Old Lady “are better placed to win the Scudetto”, but Bonucci is taking those words with a pinch of salt.

“It’s a bit of a mind game,” the centre-back told Sky.

“It’s a way or releasing the pressure that builds up with a fanbase like Napoli’s, which comes when they’re up there at the top of the table.

“So they try to put it on other teams, first it was Inter, now Juventus. It’s normal for us, but we’re aware that this League is wide open until the last day.

“On our side, we have the desire to get into the history of Juventus, winning a fifth Scudetto in a row.

“It will definitely be difficult, because the League is wide open and Inter, Fiorentina and Napoli are well-equipped.”

[Socrates 7971]

Bonucci: Serie A must be main objective for Juventus

Stephan Lichtsteiner's strike sent the Bianconeri into the cup's penultimate stage,
but Bonucci insisted they must not become distracted from the Scudetto.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2016/01/20/19543462/-?

Jan 20, 2016

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has called on his side to remain focused on their Serie A defence despite beating Lazio 1-0 on Wednesday to advance to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

Former Lazio star Stephan Lichtsteiner scored the only goal of the match to set up a two-legged tie against Inter, while Juve also have a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich coming up.

But despite Juve extending their winning run to 11 domestic matches, Bonucci said the team must focus on catching Serie A leaders Napoli.

"It'll be a wonderful challenge to take on Inter in the semi-finals, but right now we have to focus on Serie A," he told Rai Sport.

"Napoli are two points away and will cause us real problems, but we are there and want to fight to the end."

Juventus players must "spit blood" every time they step on to the pitch, Bonucci added.

He said: "Juventus have to win always, we must spit blood every time we step on to the pitch.

"In order to push to the end in all three tournaments, we need everyone to contribute. We faced a good Lazio, but we showed our character on the pitch and played our game.

"It could've ended with a bigger scoreline, but the important thing was to win."

[Socrates 7971]

JUVENTUS INJURY ROUNDUP – BONUCCI BACK, SANDRO OUT

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-injury-roundup-2/?

Feb 16, 2016

Alex Sandro is the latest injury doubt for Juve’s all-important Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian left-back suffered muscular problem during today’s training session and will be evaluated tomorrow. It’s possible he will miss Friday’s trip to Bologna and next Tuesday’s Champions League first-leg against Bayern Munich.

On a more positive note, Leonardo Bonucci has been given the all clear having picked up a knock in last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Napoli. Despite returning to training, it’s expected Daniele Rugani will start against Bologna alongside Andrea Barzagli.

Kwadwo Asamoah will return to training within the next 7 days having missed the last two weeks through a thigh injury while there are hopes that Mario Mandzukic will return for the match against Bayern. The Croatian striker picked up a calf injury in Juve’s 3-0 Coppa Italia victory against Inter Milan at the end of January.

There’s still no word on Mario Lemina, despite him playing in a training match a week ago, but it’s entirely possible that he returns to the squad in the coming week.

Finally, Martin Caceres will sit out the remainder of the season having ruptured his Achilles tendon in the 1-0 victory over Genoa.

[Socrates 7971]

Juve to tie down defence

http://www.football-italia.net/80362/juve-tie-down-defence?

Feb 25, 2016

Juventus will reportedly offer a new contract to Andrea Barzagli and ward off Manchester City’s interest in Leonardo Bonucci.

Bayern Munich Coach Pep Guardiola described Bonucci as ‘one of my favourite players’ after their 2-2 Champions League draw on Tuesday.

Tuttosport report today that the former Barcelona boss wants the Italy international to join him at Man City this summer, while Chelsea have also been linked.

However, the newspaper believes that Bonucci has no intention of leaving and he has a contract until 2020.

The report also says that a contract until 2018 is ready for Barzagli as his current deal is due to expire at the end of the season.

Discussions are believed to be at the final details for the centre-back who had reportedly attracted interest from Roma, Milan, Inter and Napoli.