Manchester City Transfer News: Leonardo Bonucci Contract Blow After CEO Comments

Juventus will reportedly move to secure the long-term future of defender Leonardo Bonucci after suggestions he wanted to transfer to Manchester City in the summer emerged.

City’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, told RAC1 (h/t Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror) that the Italian centre-back made it clear he was keen to join and link up with manager Pep Guardiola, although Juventus are said to have scuppered any chance of a transfer happening.

In response to these suggestions, the Bianconeri are reportedly ready to react. According to Fabrizio Romano of Calciomercato.com, there’s a five-year contract on the table for the 29-year-old and a salary that could see Bonucci earn around €6 million (£5.35 million) every year.

In the report, Romano noted City were ready to offer around €60 million (£53.5 million) to get the defender to the Etihad Stadium, as well as an annual wage of €8 million (£7.16 million).

Juventus fans will be delighted the club kept hold of their star defender and look poised to secure his future for a long time yet.

Here is a reminder of why so many consider Bonucci among the best centre-backs in world football:

Bonucci has grown into a behemoth at the back for Juve. Flanked by Giorgio Chiellini and Andre Barzagli, the Bianconeri have a watertight defensive structure that’s underpinned by the brilliant Gianluigi Buffon between the sticks.

For manager Massimiliano Allegri and former boss Antonio Conte, it’s been the foundation for the club’s recent successes.

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Of the three defenders, Bonucci is very much the linchpin. His alertness and composure in defence makes him an ideal man to hold the back three together, while his physicality and intelligence mean it’s almost impossible for attackers to get the better of him.

Another area in which he excels is distribution, able to step into midfield with conviction or arrow diagonal passes out to the flanks to get attacks going.

These numbers from WhoScored.com point to the consistency with which the Italy international has gone about his business at the back:

City haven’t been totally convincing in defence since Guardiola took over. Nicolas Otamendi has performed well, although John Stones is still to completely convince and captain Vincent Kompany continues to battle with injury problems. There would have definitely been a role for Bonucci to fulfil had the transfer gone through.

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Juventus and the player will benefit from him staying for the long term, though. The Bianconeri have a reputation for getting the best out of their players late on in their career, with Buffon, Barzagli, Chiellini and, before them, Andrea Pirlo all maintaining tremendous standards in their 30s.

Signing on for five more years at Juventus will allow Bonucci the chance to do exactly the same, and with him expertly marshalling the base of the team, the Italian champions have a fine chance of challenging for the biggest honours domestically and in Europe.