Juventus have informed their captain - Leonardo Bonucci that he is NO LONGER part of their project and will be excluded from the squad for the upcoming season. 💔
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2019 : Andrea Barzagli Left Juventus 😢
2021 : Gigi Buffon Left Juventus 😢
2022 : Giorgio Chiellini Left Juventus 😢
2023 : Bonucci is told to leave Juventus 💔
END OF AN ERA. 😔
Bonucci: A leader and a champion with Juventus
Leonardo Bonucci is one of the most successful and respected defenders in the world. He has been a key player for Juventus since he joined the club in 2010, winning nine Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia trophies and five Supercoppa Italiana medals. He has also reached two UEFA Champions League finals and one UEFA Europa League final with the Bianconeri.
Bonucci started his career at Inter Milan, but he did not get much playing time there. He spent two seasons on loan at Treviso and Pisa, before moving to Bari in 2009. There, he formed a solid partnership with Andrea Ranocchia, and attracted the attention of Juventus, who signed him for €15.5 million.
At Juventus, Bonucci became part of the famous "BBC" defensive trio, along with Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli. The three defenders formed the backbone of Juventus' dominance in Italy and Europe, under the guidance of Antonio Conte and later Massimiliano Allegri. Bonucci's technical skills, tactical intelligence, leadership and ability to score important goals made him a fan favorite and a role model for his teammates.
Some of Bonucci's most memorable moments with Juventus include:
- Scoring the equalizer against Napoli in the 2012 Coppa Italia final, which Juventus won 4–2 on penalties.
- Scoring a stunning volley against Roma in the 2013 Supercoppa Italiana, which Juventus won 4–0.
- Scoring a crucial goal against Borussia Dortmund in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League round of 16, which Juventus won 5–1 on aggregate.
- Scoring a penalty against Real Madrid in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, which Juventus won 4–1 on aggregate.
- Scoring a header against Barcelona in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League group stage, which Juventus won 3–0.
In 2017, Bonucci shocked many fans when he decided to join AC Milan for €42 million. He spent one season with the Rossoneri, where he was named captain and scored two goals in 35 Serie A appearances. However, he did not win any trophies with Milan, and missed out on the UEFA Champions League qualification.
In 2018, Bonucci returned to Juventus in a swap deal that saw Mattia Caldara go to Milan. He was welcomed back by his former teammates and coach Allegri, who praised his professionalism and quality. He resumed his partnership with Chiellini and Barzagli, and helped Juventus win two more Serie A titles and one Supercoppa Italiana.
Bonucci is also a regular starter for the Italy national team, having earned over 120 caps since his debut in 2010. He has represented Italy at two FIFA World Cups (2010 and 2014), three UEFA European Championships (2012, 2016 and 2020), and one FIFA Confederations Cup (2013). He won Euro 2020 with Italy, scoring a goal in the final against England, which Italy won on penalties. He was also named in the Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament.
Bonucci is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, and one of the greatest players in Juventus' history. He has won numerous individual awards for his performances, such as:
- Serie A Footballer of the Year (2016)
- UEFA Team of the Year (2016)
- FIFA FIFPro World11 (2017)
- IFFHS Men's World Team (2017)
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season (2013–14 and 2017–18)
- Serie A Team of the Year (four times)
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season (2016–17)
- ESM Team of the Year (2016–17)