Juventus legend Leonardo Bonucci has pulled back the curtain on one of the most talked-about transfer subplots of his career, revealing why he turned down the opportunity to join Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the height of his powers.
During a period when the Spanish tactician was aggressively reshaping his squad and heavily pursuing Europe’s elite central defenders, Bonucci emerged as a primary target.
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However, despite the allure of working with Guardiola and moving to the Premier League, the Italian stalwart chose to remain in Turin.
Reflecting on his decision, Bonucci in a chat with World Soccer Agency, made it clear that emotional attachment and deep-rooted loyalty to the Bianconeri outweighed any professional or financial temptations abroad.
“As far as I was concerned, the idea of leaving Juventus made my heart ache.
“Some days I’d say to myself, oh wonderful, the Premier League and Guardiola, but then the day after I remembered that I had always dreamed of Juventus.
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“For my style of football, the coach who is best suited and most appreciates playing out from the back is Guardiola.
“So he courted me for many weeks, and let me tell you, being courted by Guardiola is not like any other experience.
“You really do start to wobble, and it was tough taking place during the Euros, where I had to be concentrated, but even during the tournament there were some discussions.”
