Leonardo Bonucci remained on the bench against Monza ‘for a technical choice’, but Gazzetta suggests there could be something more behind Max Allegri’s decision to snub the Old Lady’s captain.
The Italy international didn’t play a minute in a 1-0 loss at the U-Power Stadium on Sunday, Juventus’ second defeat across all competitions in less than a week.
Allegri was suspended on Sunday, but his assistant Marco Landucci explained after the game that Bonucci’s snub was a ‘technical choice’, an explanation that has not entirely convinced Italian media, especially Gazzetta.
The pink paper highlights that the veteran defender had already missed several games due to injuries this season and that picking the inexperienced Federico Gatti over him in such a difficult moment for the club was a tricky call from Allegri, which eventually proved to be wrong.
According to Gazzetta, Allegri may not have enjoyed Bonucci’s claims after a 2-1 loss against Benfica on Wednesday.
“I am worried, there’s no point denying it. Unfortunately, we have this tendency to lose our way during matches. I don’t know why it happens and that is what worries me the most,” the defender said.
However, he also refused to blame the player or the coach, saying ‘everyone’ has responsibility.
Allegri and Bonucci are no new to disagreements as, back in 2017, the defender was ruled out of Juventus’ away game at Porto in the Champions League after a debate with the coach in a home game against Palermo. It led to Bonucci’s exit in the summer, although the defender changed his mind and returned to Turin from Milan only a year later.
This is something most Juventus fans have not forgotten. The Bianconeri ultras criticised their captain on Tuesday, saying that the he ‘will never be a leader.’