Through the official channels of Juventus, defender Leonardo Bonucci announced this Tuesday his retirement at the end of next season. The Italian’s career will end with his contract with Velha Senhora, valid until June 2024.
Bonucci made history forming one of the greatest pairs of central defenders in Italian and world football. Alongside Giorgio Chiellini, they won eight World Cup titles. Italian Championship with Juventus, played two world Cups and won the eurocupem 2021.
“When I stop playing next year, an era in the defense of Juventus will come to an end. For me it is a pride to be among the greats. Many of the current defenders will grow up. We had our idols, like Baresi and Cannavarro. Many of the young players see us as idols and that means we leave a lot for football,” said Bonucci.
The 36-year-old Italian defender has played more than 500 games for Juventus after coming through Inter MilanGenoa, Milan and other smaller Italian teams. In the current season, Bonucci lost space in the starting lineup of Massimiliano Allegri and gave way to Brazilian Bremer.
“As a child, you run after the ball, you dream of wearing the shirt of a club like Juventus and playing 500 times with this shield means you made history. It’s a great emotion. Wearing this shirt was like living a dream and inside me there will always be that child who is happy to enter the field, since that was his dream”, he added.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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