Leonardo Bonucci underlined the motives behind his decision to take legal action against Juventus, and noted that it’s ‘not a question of money’.
The 36-year-old Italian centre back was forced out of the Bianconeri squad this summer, being entirely frozen out of the project, and eventually joined Union Berlin on transfer deadline day.
Bonucci has decided to take legal action against Juventus, claiming damages due to the way that he was unceremoniously forced out of the squad by Massimiliano Allegri, not being allowed to train with his teammates.
Speaking to Sport Mediaset, Bonucci explained why he’s launching a legal battle against Juventus.
“My rights stipulated that I should have trained with the team regardless of the technical choice and been put in a position to physically and athletically face the following season.
“This was not granted to me, I no longer trained with the team. I felt drained of everything, humiliated, I couldn’t do what I love most.
“It’s not a question of money, if I win the case, I will donate everything to charity. And what’s more, I want my situation to be for the AIC, of which I am a councillor, a crucial role because every year people, players, men, professionals who have less strength than mine find themselves in these situations and in the end are compromised in order to continue playing.”
The 36-year-old Italian defender highlighted how one individual – likely Allegri – was responsible for both of his exits from the club in recent years.
“After two weeks of not being part of Juve, it is very difficult to think about the last period. I like to think about the Juventus I was a part of, the one that won, the real Juventus, the one that has never been seen in the last two years.
“I have nothing against Juventus. Juventus are the fans, the team, my former teammates. I am pursuing this cause because the people who were supposed to let me end my career with Juventus in a respectful and worthy way have not done so.
“This is the second time I’ve been forced to leave Juventus, in both cases because of the stance of an individual, which is not me… What is there for all to see is that I never had the relationship I wanted with the coach.
“It’s not just my fault because I have my character and very often I have taken positions for the good of the team and my teammates. This created a short circuit that didn’t allow me to end my career as I would have liked.
“Pirlo made me smile, he told me that maybe it could happen like it did to him, to continue winning somewhere else after they think you’re finished (Pirlo left Allegri’s Milan in the summer of 2011, ed.).
“I also heard from Chiellini, with whom I have a brotherly relationship, and also Buffon who wanted to hear my truth, different from what was written in the newspapers.”
He spoke about his desire to move forward with the Italy national team and revealed a conversation he had with new coach Luciano Spalletti.
“I want to continue to play and trouble Spalletti for the national team. His phone call to tell me that he wouldn’t call me up for these last games wasn’t a due act, it was a gesture that I appreciated a lot, it shows his human depth, his sincerity.
“Not having had a proper pre-season, he couldn’t call me up for the Azzurri. I expected it, I’m no fool. But I feel the national team shirt on my skin like the Juventus one. I’ll do everything I can to wear it.
“In addition to Spalletti’s gesture, I was struck by the many messages, the closeness of current Juventus players, of former Juventus players, of fellow national team members all showing solidarity.
“They showed me their solidarity in the face of the disrespectful treatment they received from Juventus.”
Finally, Bonucci revealed his desire to return to Juventus in the future as a coach.
“Something in the future will be there. When I decide to start coaching, I have my path well in mind, what I want to do.
“Surely Juventus, when I become a coach, will not be the one of today and maybe there will be a way, one day, to re-embrace the fans, to greet them and make them understand how important Juventus was for me. The one of today I don’t feel is mine.”