Leonardo Bonucci, the former Juventus, Milan, and Union Berlin defender, shared his thoughts on the current Serie A season and his future plans at the Festival dello Sport. The experienced center-back offered insights on the Scudetto race and reminisced about his illustrious career.
When asked about the title contenders, Bonucci stated, “Napoli, Inter, and Juventus can compete for the Scudetto, but I’m also impressed by Lazio, and Gasperini’s Atalanta should always be considered for the top positions. I see Milan a step below the others.”
Reflecting on his former team, Juventus, Bonucci praised their Champions League performances but acknowledged the impact of Bremer’s absence. “Juventus has shown they can compete well among the top 8 in the Champions League. Bremer is a significant loss. Without taking anything away from the others, he had demonstrated he could handle Juve’s defensive phase alone. With him, they could play with 60 meters to cover behind. Whoever plays in his place will need to give 110%.”
Bonucci also touched on his future plans, revealing, “On Monday, I have an exam to get my first coaching license.”
The defender fondly recalled his time playing in Italy’s national team, particularly the Euro 2020 victory. “Many people still thank me for that goal in the final against England at the Euros. It’s the most beautiful moment of my career. It was something emotional and unique. We enjoyed every second of that run.”
Discussing his partnership with Giorgio Chiellini, Bonucci humorously noted their different temperaments: “Giorgio and I had different characters. It took very little for me to ignite. Chiellini was much calmer. He always wanted to do things calmly and patiently.”
Bonucci also commented on Thiago Motta’s Juventus, saying, “There’s a different way of seeing football. Important knowledge is needed, which Thiago is transmitting to the team. The right players are needed to play that type of football.”
