According to Calciomercato, Manchester City have been given a massive blow in their pursuit of Leonardo Bonucci. The Juventus star is set to stay and continue his career at the Allianz Stadium amid reports linking him with a move to Etihad. Bonucci’s refusal is expected to force Man City to turn their attention towards other alternatives, including Milan Skriniar.
What Leonardo Bonucci could have added to the table
Following a disastrous short spell at AC Milan, Bonucci has done extremely well to re-establish himself as one of Italy’s best defenders after returning to Juventus in 2018. He has once again become a mainstay in the Juve backline, notably helping the Old Lady secure the Italian league title, last season.
This season, however, Bonucci’s presence in the team has been much more critical due to the club’s injury crisis in defence. Indeed, newly appointed Maurizio Sarri has had to deal with the absences of key defenders like Giorgio Chiellini and Merih Demiral. As a result, Bonucci has emerged as the pillar of the Juventus defence.
It is indicative of the Italian’s formidable spirit and leadership that makes him such a highly rated defender in Serie A. He can provide real confidence and motivation to the team, which is a unique asset for any footballer. Also, the 33-year-old is hardened by years of experience at the highest level of football, having made almost 400 appearances for Juventus in all competitions.
Bonucci has also won almost 100 caps for the Italian national team while securing eight Serie A titles, among other accolades. He is, therefore, not just an experienced defender but is also quite a successful one.
A big blow for Pep Guardiola?
Missing out on Bonucci would undoubtedly be a massive blow for Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City backline has often been exposed this season, mainly due to the absence of a real leader at the back. Following the departure of Vincent Kompany, the Sky Blues have lacked such a figure in their defence.
Bonucci, in that regard, should have been an ideal replacement for the Belgian. His wealth of experience combined with his leadership would have provided some much-needed stability at the back, especially with star player Aymeric Laporte missing a chunk of the season due to injury.
Additionally, Guardiola also lacks reliable options at the back. Both John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have failed to represent themselves as viable candidates, thus accentuating the need for a well-established defender like Bonucci. But with the Italian adamant on staying at Juventus, This would certainly be a problem for Manchester United.
