Manchester City Transfer News: Leonardo Bonucci Responds to Summer Rumours

Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci has admitted he was tempted by the prospect of moving to the Premier League during the summer-transfer window, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all linked with the defender at some point.

Per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, Bonucci sat at the top of United manager Jose Mourinho's wishlist after he signed Paul Pogba, but the Italian is now close to signing a new deal with the Bianconeri.

Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press

City and Chelsea were also linked, with Citizens manager Pep Guardiola telling Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) Bonucci is one of his favourite players and the Blues hiring Antonio Conte, who turned the Italy international athlete into a star during his time with Juventus.

The 29-year-old has told Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) he seriously considered moving to England, but his love for Juventus proved too great:

"

If I said that I wasn’t tempted this summer by an offer from England, above all for the coach that wanted me, then that would be a lie.

But Juventus is my home and I am happy to have remained. My dream was to win with this shirt and now I am here, ready to improve as a player and challenge myself to make this team become a legend.

"

Bonucci joined Juventus from Bari in 2010 and struggled initially, making plenty of mistakes in the heart of defence and forcing team-mates Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli to clean up behind him on several occasions.

Conte stuck with the passing maestro, however, and he gradually asserted himself as Juventus' top defensive option. By UEFA Euro 2016, he was universally recognised as one of the best centre-backs in the world, standing out with his positioning and incredible passing ability.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

It's unclear which Premier League manager Bonucci referenced with his comments, but all three of the reportedly interested clubs would have made for intriguing fits. United desperately needed a strong centre-back during the summer, and the Red Devils eventually settled for the talented Eric Bailly.

On the other side of Manchester, Guardiola's entire attacking system is built around passing, and there are few centre-backs in football who do that better than Bonucci.

Per OptaPaolo, the numbers suggest he's comfortable with the ball at his feet:

Mourinho and Guardiola are two world-class managers just about every player in the world would love to work with, and Conte is the man who stuck by Bonucci and turned him into the star he is today.

Like United, Chelsea needed another centre-back before the summer ended, and the Blues settled for David Luiz. The Brazilian isn't without his faults, but he has similar athletic traits to Bonucci, so there's every reason to believe Conte will improve his performances as well.

All three clubs addressed their defensive needs during the summer―City ended up signing John Stones―but given Bonucci's tremendous abilities, new offers will undoubtedly arrive in Turin next summer if he has another outstanding season.

The Azzurri defender is unlikely to leave Juventus anytime soon, however. He's a fan favourite and an instrumental part of the club, and a player the Bianconeri have used heavily for years, via Bleacher Report UK:

Juventus have solid depth and prospects―Daniele Rugani and Filippo Romagna both look like future superstars―but both Barzagli and Chiellini are getting up there in age, and Bonucci will be expected to lead the defence once those two are gone.